.The scene in the stands at Roland Garrosu00e2 $ s Court Philippe-Chatrier was actually dotted with vermillion banners, adding a radiance to the presently orangey air rising off the red clay court.These were Mandarin flagsu00e2 $" dozens themu00e2 $" swaying in lively assistance for Qinwen Zheng, 21, that will very soon take gold by defeating Croatiau00e2 $ s Donna Vekic 6-2, 6-3 in the womenu00e2 $ s singles ping pong final.As she set on the dust, eyes skyward as well as fists stretched right into the Paris fog, the winu00e2 $ s gravitational force appeared to sign up: Zheng had actually simply shaped the type of background that stretched far past the coliseum and the second. This was actually Chinau00e2 $ s first-ever Olympic gold medal in the sportu00e2 $" and Zheng had actually made obvious of the truth that the Olympics were as, otherwise even more, crucial to her than a Grand Slam.Zheng commemorates her Olympic victory on August 3.Photograph: Getty Imagesu00e2 $ In China, our company always strongly believe a countryu00e2 $ s tribute remains in front end of private success, u00e2 $ she claimed over an early morning appointment at Nikeu00e2 $ s Athlete Residence, put quietly in between the Stade de France and also the Aquatics Center in Parisu00e2 $ s St. Denis place, the day after her victory. u00e2 $ I managed [the Gamings] differentlyu00e2 $" the emotion, the match, the mindset: It really felt different than every other competition Iu00e2 $ ve played.u00e2 $ Birthed in 2002 in Shiyan, China, Zheng began playing ping pong at grow older 7. At grow older eight, she relocated, without her mother as well as father, to Wuhan for much better coaching, and also due to the fact that adolescence she has deeply admired and replicated Mandarin professional athletes, such as the tennis celebrity Li Na and the distance runner Liu Xiang, who succeeded gold at the 2004 Athens Games.u00e2 $ It was definitely hard, u00e2 $ Zheng mentioned, remembering at those very early times. u00e2 $ My mom made use of to follow go to on weekends. When she left, I would certainly hold her leg and also cry. When she was actually gone, I would certainly always store her coat. This was till I was actually 13. After 13, my mom determined to stop her job as well as happen stay with me permanent, only to have much better development as well as far better care. After that, it acquired less complicated. As well as our company relocated to Europe when I was 17. u00e2 $.