.The performance in the platforms at Roland Garrosu00e2 $ s Courtroom Philippe-Chatrier was dotted with vermillion streamers, including a glow to the already orangey air originating off the reddish clay-based court.These were Chinese flagsu00e2 $" manies themu00e2 $" swaying in lively assistance for Qinwen Zheng, 21, that would quickly take gold by beating Croatiau00e2 $ s Donna Vekic 6-2, 6-3 in the womenu00e2 $ s songs ping pong final.As she set on the filth, eyes skyward and also fists prolonged into the Paris haze, the winu00e2 $ s gravity seemed to be to sign up: Zheng had actually simply created the sort of background that extended much past the arena and the second. This was Chinau00e2 $ s first-ever Olympic gold medal in the sportu00e2 $" and Zheng had actually created clear of the simple fact that the Olympics were as, or even more, necessary to her than a Grand Slam.Zheng commemorates her Olympic triumph on August 3.Image: Getty Imagesu00e2 $ In China, our team constantly strongly believe a countryu00e2 $ s respect remains in face of private excellence, u00e2 $ she mentioned over an early morning conference at Nikeu00e2 $ s Sportsmen Property, put quietly between the Stade de France and the Aquatics Facility in Parisu00e2 $ s St. Denis region, the time after her triumph. u00e2 $ I dealt with [the Gamings] differentlyu00e2 $" the feeling, the match, the mindset: It felt various than every other competition Iu00e2 $ ve played.u00e2 $ Born in 2002 in Shiyan, China, Zheng began playing ping pong at age 7. At age eight, she relocated, without her mommy as well as daddy, to Wuhan for better coaching, and considering that teenage years she has actually greatly admired and also followed Mandarin sportsmens, such as the ping pong superstar Li Na and also the runner Liu Xiang, that won gold at the 2004 Athens Games.u00e2 $ It was definitely challenging, u00e2 $ Zheng said, looking back at those very early days. u00e2 $ My mother made use of ahead check out on weekend breaks. When she left, I would hold her lower leg and cry. When she was gone, I would always store her coat. This was actually until I was 13. After 13, my mama made a decision to quit her work as well as come stay with me full time, only to possess far better development and better care. After that, it got less complicated. And our team relocated to Europe when I was actually 17. u00e2 $.