.The scene in the platforms at Roland Garrosu00e2 $ s Court Philippe-Chatrier was actually dotted along with vermillion ensigns, incorporating a radiance to the presently orangey sky rising off the reddish clay-based court.These were Mandarin flagsu00e2 $" thousands of themu00e2 $" swaying in lively assistance for Qinwen Zheng, 21, who would quickly take gold by beating Croatiau00e2 $ s Donna Vekic 6-2, 6-3 in the womenu00e2 $ s single people ping pong final.As she lay down on the dirt, eyes skyward and fists prolonged right into the Paris haze, the winu00e2 $ s gravitation seemed to sign up: Zheng had only shaped the sort of history that expanded far past the stadium and the moment. This was actually Chinau00e2 $ s first-ever Olympic gold medal in the sportu00e2 $" and also Zheng had actually created obvious of the truth that the Olympics were as, otherwise additional, important to her than a Grand Slam.Zheng commemorates her Olympic success on August 3.Photograph: Getty Imagesu00e2 $ In China, our company constantly think a countryu00e2 $ s respect remains in front of personal success, u00e2 $ she said over an early morning meeting at Nikeu00e2 $ s Athlete Residence, put discreetly in between the Stade de France and also the Aquatics Centre in Parisu00e2 $ s St. Denis place, the day after her conquest. u00e2 $ I managed [the Games] differentlyu00e2 $" the emotion, the match, the mindset: It experienced various than intermittent tournament Iu00e2 $ ve played.u00e2 $ Born in 2002 in Shiyan, China, Zheng started playing ping pong at grow older seven. At grow older eight, she relocated, without her mama and also dad, to Wuhan for much better mentoring, as well as because teenage years she has profoundly marvelled at as well as mimicked Mandarin sportsmens, including the ping pong superstar Li Na and the jogger Liu Xiang, that succeeded gold at the 2004 Athens Games.u00e2 $ It was really hard, u00e2 $ Zheng said, looking back at those very early times. u00e2 $ My mommy utilized to find go to on weekends. When she left behind, I would hold her lower leg and cry. When she was gone, I would certainly always keep her coat. This was until I was 13. After thirteen, my mother chose to quit her task and also happen remain with me full-time, only to have far better growth and also much better care. Afterwards, it received simpler. And we transferred to Europe when I was 17. u00e2 $.