.The scene in the stands at Roland Garrosu00e2 $ s Court Philippe-Chatrier was dotted with vermillion ensigns, adding a glow to the actually orangey sky emanating off the red clay-based court.These were actually Mandarin flagsu00e2 $" dozens themu00e2 $" swaying in lively assistance for Qinwen Zheng, 21, that would very soon 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 gunk, eyes skyward and fists expanded into the Paris haze, the winu00e2 $ s gravitation seemed to be to sign up: Zheng had merely built the type of background that prolonged far past the arena as well as the minute. This was Chinau00e2 $ s first-ever Olympic gold award in the sportu00e2 $" and also Zheng had created clear of the reality that the Olympics were as, or even additional, important to her than a Grand Slam.Zheng celebrates her Olympic success on August 3.Picture: Getty Imagesu00e2 $ In China, our team consistently feel a countryu00e2 $ s tribute remains in front end of private excellence, u00e2 $ she mentioned over an early morning conference at Nikeu00e2 $ s Sportsmen House, put discreetly between the Stade de France and also the Aquatics Facility in Parisu00e2 $ s St. Denis place, the day after her victory. u00e2 $ I alleviated [the Video games] differentlyu00e2 $" the feeling, the fight, the mindset: It felt various than every other competition Iu00e2 $ ve played.u00e2 $ Born in 2002 in Shiyan, China, Zheng started playing ping pong at grow older seven. At age 8, she relocated, without her mommy as well as dad, to Wuhan for much better mentoring, as well as considering that teenage years she has actually heavily admired and also followed Mandarin sportsmens, including the tennis celebrity Li Na and the jogger Liu Xiang, that won gold at the 2004 Athens Games.u00e2 $ It was actually definitely challenging, u00e2 $ Zheng stated, recalling at those very early times. u00e2 $ My mommy utilized to follow browse through on weekend breaks. When she left behind, I would certainly keep her lower leg as well as weep. When she was actually gone, I will constantly store her coat. This was actually till I was actually thirteen. After thirteen, my mom made a decision to stop her job and also happen remain with me full time, simply to have far better development and much better treatment. After that, it acquired less complicated. As well as we moved to Europe when I was 17. u00e2 $.