.The performance in the platforms at Roland Garrosu00e2 $ s Courthouse Philippe-Chatrier was actually dotted with vermillion streamers, incorporating a glow to the already orangey air emanating off the reddish clay court.These were Mandarin flagsu00e2 $" numerous themu00e2 $" swaying in boisterous support for Qinwen Zheng, 21, that will soon take gold by beating Croatiau00e2 $ s Donna Vekic 6-2, 6-3 in the womenu00e2 $ s single people ping pong final.As she put down on the filth, eyes skyward and fists stretched in to the Paris fog, the winu00e2 $ s gravity appeared to enroll: Zheng had simply forged the type of record that stretched much past the coliseum and also the minute. This was Chinau00e2 $ s first-ever Olympic gold award in the sportu00e2 $" as well as Zheng had created no secret of the simple fact that the Olympics were as, or even even more, crucial to her than a Grand Slam.Zheng celebrates her Olympic success on August 3.Photograph: Getty Imagesu00e2 $ In China, our team regularly feel a countryu00e2 $ s respect is in front of individual excellence, u00e2 $ she mentioned over a morning conference at Nikeu00e2 $ s Professional athlete House, put inconspicuously in between the Stade de France and also the Aquatics Centre in Parisu00e2 $ s St. Denis area, the day after her victory. u00e2 $ I addressed [the Gamings] differentlyu00e2 $" the emotion, the battle, the mindset: It experienced various than intermittent event Iu00e2 $ ve played.u00e2 $ Birthed in 2002 in Shiyan, China, Zheng started participating in tennis at grow older seven. At grow older eight, she moved, without her mother and also dad, to Wuhan for far better coaching, as well as given that teenage years she has greatly marvelled at and followed Mandarin sportsmens, such as the ping pong star Li Na as well as the distance runner Liu Xiang, who won gold at the 2004 Athens Games.u00e2 $ It was truly challenging, u00e2 $ Zheng pointed out, remembering at those very early times. u00e2 $ My mommy used ahead check out on weekend breaks. When she left behind, I would secure her lower leg and also cry. When she was gone, I would certainly consistently hold her coat. This was till I was thirteen. After thirteen, my mommy determined to quit her job and also happen stay with me permanent, merely to have much better development as well as far better care. After that, it acquired easier. And our team moved to Europe when I was actually 17. u00e2 $.