Is Singapore's table-tennis queen Li Jiawei's groom-to-be China's diamond magnate Li Hou Lin?

According to a report from one of China's online leading dailies, it appears to be so.

However, the Olympic medallist has denied the allegations.

"It's not true. You'd better check your facts before asking me," the 27-year-old told Lianhe Wanbao in a phone interview.

When asked whether she was aware of the circulated news, she replied: "I am busy with training and do not have time to surf the net. I do not know of this news."

"I'm busy and am in the midst of training," were her last words before she abruptly hung up the phone.

Where's that diamond ring from, Jiawei?

The report that was carried by the Chinese media stated that Jiawei was spotted flaunting a diamond ring on her hand whilst being interviewed by the Singapore media.

When reporters had asked if there was a special meaning to the ring, Jiawei replied chirpily: "This ring was given to me by someone!".

She then proceeded to show it off, while indirectly admitting that the rock weighed at least one carat.

Apparently not content with her answer, the reporters had pressed her further by saying that according to tradition, wearing a diamond ring on the fourth finger of one's left hand meant that one was engaged.

Upon hearing their comments, Jiawei let out a light laugh and asked: "Really?". She then pulled out a diamond necklace that had been hanging around her neck and said: "This was also given to me by someone.

"Do you know Li Xiang (referring to Chinese news anchor)? This was bought from Li Xiang's ex-husband's diamond store," she continued excitedly. According to the same report, Jiawei was the perfect picture of bliss and joy as she made the admission.

The store that Jiawei was referring to was Hiersun Diamond Palace, which is owned by Li Xiang's ex-husband and Jiawei's current alleged beau, Li Hou Lin.

One reporter, after hearing Jiawei's words, had contacted the diamond store immediately.

The reporter had a reply from a staff member which stated that the cost of a 0.3 carat necklace is roughly about 20,000 RMB (S$4,200) and that a diamond ring that weighed between 0.3 to 0.5 carat would cost about 20,000 to 30,000 RMB (S$4,200 to $6,300)

Previously, the 35-year-old Hou Lin had been married to Chinese news anchor Li Xiang, but the couple filed for divorce two years ago.

Hou Lin, a prominent member in the China's social circles, owns a booming business called Hiersun Diamond Palace and has five flagship stores in Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai, amongst other cities.

I want my children to bear the surname "Li"

According to sources close to the couple, Li Jiawei had known Li Hou Lin since March through a friend's introduction, reported the online daily.

Jiawei had revealed in the interview that she hoped to have a child bearing the surname "Li". If she had two children, one would follow the husband's surname and the other would have hers. But as fate would have it, she said that her marriage to Li would allow all her children to bear the "Li" surname.

Before her encounter with Hou Lin, Jiawei had accepted fellow Singapore sports star Ronald Susilo's proposal for hand in marriage in 2004. However, their relationship broke in January this year, thus ending their six-year courtship.