JUGGLING training schedules to prepare for tournaments comes easily to Singapore table tennis star Li Jiawei, but it’s a differentgamewhenthemain event involves her lifelong happiness.

The World No 7 is pulling out all the stops to ensure that her traditional wedding ceremony and lunch banquet tomorrow is a sure-win.

That includes sleeping barely four hours a day in the past week.

Jiawei, 27, will be exchanging formal vows with Chinese businessman Li Chao, 36, to be witnessed by an expected 600 guests in Beijing.

Among the invited guests expected to turn up are officials from the Singapore Table Tennis Association including its president Ms Lee Bee Wah, and acclaimed Chinese director Zhao Benshan.

Jiawei and Mr Li were introduced to each other by a mutual friend and after a whirlwind courtship, they registered their marriage last September.

He is the chairman and general manager of Beijing Trade Star Medical Technology Development, a rising player in the Chinese pharmaceutical industry.

In an interview with The New Paper yesterday at the Beijing Hotel where she was doing a dr -run for her wedding, Jiawei said she wasn’t nervous and looked forward to the big day.

She wished that all will go well as many people had worked hard with her on the preparations.

And for this, she expressed her appreciation to WhiteLink, her official wedding planner from Singapore.

Owner Kerano Heng and her siblings have been here since Tuesday to assist in the lead-up to the big day, which included a final gown fitting on Wednesday and a dry-run at the Banquet Hall in Beijing Hotel where the lunch banquet will be held.

On the wedding day, Jiawei will wear four of the nine gowns that were specially designed for her. Her main gown is a stunning piece that has been hand-sewn with 38,888 pieces of Swarovski crystals, which costs $13,000and weighs nearly 40kg.

Jiawei said: “I really appreciate the efforts they have taken right from the start, like taking photos for the wedding album in Singapore. “Now, they’ve also put other jobs on hold so that they can give me their full attention.”

And fuss around Jiawei the WhiteLink team of siblings did, with designer Sammi and make-up artist Joanne putting their touches to dress Jiawei up, while photographer Alex captured all the memorieson stills.

“I’m actually feeling quite nervous as the day draws nearer. Jiawei’s like our sister and we want to marry her off in nothing but the best,” said Madam Kerano Heng, who has known the paddler for nearly five years.

They met through Jiawei’s personal manager and close friend, Ms Nelly Poa. Ms Poa, who is co-ordinating both the banquets here and in Singapore, had approached Madam Heng after the Olympics.

Long-time friendship Madam Heng explained: “First, it was because of my long-time friendship with Nelly. Also, Jiawei had openly declared (after news of her wedding registration broke) that she will fulfil her responsibility to Singapore for the 2012 Olympics.”

It helped too that Mr Li was in full support of Jiawei’s plan.

Madam Heng also felt it was a good opportunity for WhiteLink to do its part for Singapore – and what better way than through the synergy that Jiawei represents between China and Singapore.

Madam Heng added: “That is also one of the reasons why we chose to take photos at Singapore’s various landmarks such as the Singapore Flyover and Sentosa."

The team initially had plans to do more photo-taking of some of Beijing’s famous spots such as the Tiananmen Square and the National Stadium (also known as the Bird’s Nest) where the Olympics was held last year.

But that was called off later because of the rain. Not that anything will dampen Jiawei’s mood, for she is clearly basking in bliss.

At yesterday's dry run, her face broke into a girlish smile and a hint of a blush when Mr Li did a rendition of Taiwanese singer Huang Pinyuan’s Xiao Wei.

As his baritone-rich voice filled the grand hall, Jiawei looked up adoringly at the man she has chosen to marry.

And encouraged by that public display, Mr Li later joked: “Oh, since I’m able to do the song well, do you think I should amend the lyrics a little? Or, like add a humorous touch?”

But he quickly dismissed the idea as he felt it would take away the solemn promise of love in the song.

Best man Sheng Xia, 28, felt happy that Jiawei has found herMr Right. Mr Sheng, who is also a professional table tennis player here, said he has regularly kept in contact with his childhood friend even after she moved to Singapore.

He added: “When she called and asked if I could be the best man, I agreed at once because I felt it was one of the best ways to offer her my heartfelt wishes.”

And bridesmaid Chen Meixin – also Jiawei’s good friend – specially took time off from her busy filming schedule to fly in from Shanghai.

She is working on A Starry Night, a drama which centres on the love of a Singaporean singer and a young man from Shanghai.

The collaboration between the Media Development Authority, Ufinity and Chinese company Prime Time Entertainment also stars Robert Fan, Kelly Poon and SkyWu.

The Singaporean singer-actress, 22, who was voted Best Newcomer in The New Paper Flame Awards earlier this year, will also perform her debut single – Shun Jian (A Moment) – live to convey her wishes to the couple.

Meixin said: “I believe that Mr Li will love and cherish Jiawei-jie and I am honoured that I can share in this important moment too.”

And that’s also why Jiawei feels that sacrificing her sleep is nothing. She said: “What matters most to me is I know I have found someone who loves me as much as I love him, and that he is someone I know will be there for me and grow old with me, the same way I will be there for him.”

This article was first published in The New Paper