.The performance in the platforms at Roland Garrosu00e2 $ s Courthouse Philippe-Chatrier was actually dotted with vermillion ensigns, adding a glow to the currently orangey sky rising off the red clay court.These were actually Chinese flagsu00e2 $" manies themu00e2 $" waving in energetic support for Qinwen Zheng, 21, that would certainly very soon take gold by beating Croatiau00e2 $ s Donna Vekic 6-2, 6-3 in the womenu00e2 $ s songs tennis 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 enroll: Zheng had merely created the sort of history that extended far past the arena and also the instant. This was Chinau00e2 $ s first-ever Olympic gold award in the sportu00e2 $" and Zheng had created no secret of the fact that the Olympics were as, if not more, crucial to her than a Grand Slam.Zheng celebrates her Olympic triumph on August 3.Image: Getty Imagesu00e2 $ In China, our team regularly strongly believe a countryu00e2 $ s tribute resides in front end of individual excellence, u00e2 $ she said over an early morning appointment at Nikeu00e2 $ s Sportsmen Residence, tucked inconspicuously between the Stade de France and the Aquatics Centre in Parisu00e2 $ s St. Denis area, the day after her conquest. u00e2 $ I managed [the Games] differentlyu00e2 $" the emotional state, the battle, the attitude: It felt various than every other tournament Iu00e2 $ ve played.u00e2 $ Born in 2002 in Shiyan, China, Zheng began participating in ping pong at age 7. At age eight, she moved, without her mama and papa, to Wuhan for better coaching, and also given that adolescence she has actually deeply appreciated and also emulated Mandarin athletes, like the ping pong celebrity Li Na and the runner Liu Xiang, who gained gold at the 2004 Athens Games.u00e2 $ It was actually actually hard, u00e2 $ Zheng said, looking back at those very early times. u00e2 $ My mommy utilized to follow check out on weekends. When she left, I would secure her lower leg as well as weep. When she was gone, I will regularly hold her coat. This was till I was 13. After thirteen, my mother decided to stop her project and also come stay with me permanent, simply to possess much better development as well as far better care. After that, it got simpler. As well as our experts transferred to Europe when I was actually 17. u00e2 $.