.The scene in the stands at Roland Garrosu00e2 $ s Courthouse Philippe-Chatrier was dotted along with vermillion ensigns, incorporating a glow to the currently orangey sky emanating off the reddish clay court.These were Mandarin flagsu00e2 $" dozens themu00e2 $" swing in energetic assistance for Qinwen Zheng, 21, that would certainly very soon take gold through beating Croatiau00e2 $ s Donna Vekic 6-2, 6-3 in the womenu00e2 $ s single people ping pong final.As she put down on the dust, eyes skyward and also fists expanded in to the Paris fog, the winu00e2 $ s gravitational force appeared to enroll: Zheng had actually only forged the sort of history that extended far past the arena and the moment. This was Chinau00e2 $ s first-ever Olympic gold medal in the sportu00e2 $" and Zheng had actually created no secret of the truth that the Olympics were as, if not even more, important to her than a Grand Slam.Zheng commemorates her Olympic victory on August 3.Photo: Getty Imagesu00e2 $ In China, we always think a countryu00e2 $ s honor remains in face of personal results, u00e2 $ she claimed over an early morning appointment at Nikeu00e2 $ s Sportsmen House, tucked discreetly between the Stade de France and also the Aquatics Facility in Parisu00e2 $ s St. Denis location, the day after her victory. u00e2 $ I handled [the Video games] differentlyu00e2 $" the emotion, the fight, the mentality: It felt different than every other event Iu00e2 $ ve played.u00e2 $ Birthed in 2002 in Shiyan, China, Zheng began playing ping pong at age 7. At grow older 8, she relocated, without her mom as well as dad, to Wuhan for much better coaching, and also considering that adolescence she has actually heavily appreciated as well as mimicked Mandarin sportsmens, like the ping pong star Li Na and also the distance runner Liu Xiang, who succeeded gold at the 2004 Athens Games.u00e2 $ It was actually really difficult, u00e2 $ Zheng said, recalling at those early times. u00e2 $ My mommy used ahead browse through on weekend breaks. When she left behind, I would certainly secure her leg as well as cry. When she was gone, I will constantly keep her jacket. This was up until I was actually 13. After 13, my mom decided to quit her work as well as come remain with me permanent, only to possess far better growth and also much better care. Afterwards, it obtained much easier. And also we transferred to Europe when I was actually 17. u00e2 $.