Only one medal has been won by a non-Asian country in the women's events since the sport became part of the Olympic Games schedule at Seoul in 1988.
The sole success came that year, when Yugoslavian duo Jasna Fazli and Gordana Perku took bronze in the since-discontinued Doubles format.
That haul will not be added to in the Singles at London 2012 after four Asian players - China's Ding and Li, Singapore's Tianwei Feng and Japan's Kasumi Ishikawa - reached the last four.
It was a mixed day for Japan, with Ishikawa's success preceding the exit of national hero Ai Fukuhara.
The latter was always facing a difficult challenge against Ding, who last year won singles gold at the World Cup and World Championships.
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