.The performance in the platforms at Roland Garrosu00e2 $ s Court Philippe-Chatrier was populated along with vermillion banners, incorporating a radiance to the actually orangey sky rising off the red clay court.These were actually Chinese flagsu00e2 $” dozens themu00e2 $” swing in lively support for Qinwen Zheng, 21, that would certainly quickly take gold by beating Croatiau00e2 $ s Donna Vekic 6-2, 6-3 in the womenu00e2 $ s songs tennis final.As she lay down on the filth, eyes skyward and fists stretched right into the Paris fog, the winu00e2 $ s gravitational force seemed to sign up: Zheng had merely forged the type of record that prolonged much past the coliseum as well as the moment. This was Chinau00e2 $ s first-ever Olympic gold award in the sportu00e2 $” and also Zheng had made no secret of the simple fact that the Olympics were actually as, or even more, important to her than a Grand Slam.Zheng commemorates her Olympic success on August 3.Photo: Getty Imagesu00e2 $ In China, our team consistently feel a countryu00e2 $ s honor remains in front end of individual success, u00e2 $ she pointed out over an early morning conference at Nikeu00e2 $ s Athlete House, tucked discreetly in between the Stade de France and also the Aquatics Center in Parisu00e2 $ s St. Denis location, the day after her triumph.
u00e2 $ I dealt with [the Games] differentlyu00e2 $” the feeling, the battle, the mindset: It felt various than intermittent competition Iu00e2 $ ve played.u00e2 $ Born in 2002 in Shiyan, China, Zheng started participating in ping pong at grow older 7. At age eight, she relocated, without her mom and daddy, to Wuhan for much better training, and since teenage years she has actually greatly appreciated and imitated Chinese sportsmens, including the ping pong star Li Na as well as the jogger Liu Xiang, that won gold at the 2004 Athens Games.u00e2 $ It was actually really tough, u00e2 $ Zheng claimed, looking back at those very early days. u00e2 $ My mama utilized to find go to on weekends.
When she left behind, I would certainly hold her lower leg as well as cry. When she was gone, I would certainly constantly hold her jacket. This was up until I was actually thirteen.
After thirteen, my mama decided to stop her task and also happen remain with me full-time, just to possess much better development and much better treatment. Afterwards, it acquired less complicated. As well as we moved to Europe when I was actually 17.
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