.The scene in the stands at Roland Garrosu00e2 $ s Courtroom Philippe-Chatrier was dotted along with vermillion ensigns, incorporating a glow to the actually orangey sky rising off the reddish clay-based court.These were actually Chinese flagsu00e2 $" dozens themu00e2 $" swing in lively support 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 singles ping pong final.As she put down on the dust, eyes skyward and fists extended in to the Paris haze, the winu00e2 $ s gravitation seemed to sign up: Zheng had actually merely built the type of record that extended far past the coliseum and also the instant. This was Chinau00e2 $ s first-ever Olympic gold medal in the sportu00e2 $" and Zheng had actually created clear of the simple fact that the Olympics were as, otherwise even more, crucial to her than a Grand Slam.Zheng commemorates her Olympic success on August 3.Photo: Getty Imagesu00e2 $ In China, our experts always believe a countryu00e2 $ s respect is in front end of personal results, u00e2 $ she claimed over an early morning meeting at Nikeu00e2 $ s Sportsmen Residence, put inconspicuously between the Stade de France and the Aquatics Facility in Parisu00e2 $ s St. Denis location, the day after her accomplishment. u00e2 $ I managed [the Games] differentlyu00e2 $" the emotion, the battle, the mentality: It really felt various than intermittent competition Iu00e2 $ ve played.u00e2 $ Birthed in 2002 in Shiyan, China, Zheng began participating in tennis at grow older seven. At grow older eight, she moved, without her mama as well as papa, to Wuhan for much better mentoring, as well as considering that teenage years she has actually heavily admired and imitated Mandarin sportsmens, such as the ping pong superstar Li Na and also the distance runner Liu Xiang, that succeeded gold at the 2004 Athens Games.u00e2 $ It was definitely hard, u00e2 $ Zheng mentioned, looking back at those very early days. u00e2 $ My mom used to come go to on weekends. When she left, I would certainly keep her lower leg and also weep. When she was actually gone, I would constantly store her jacket. This was until I was actually thirteen. After thirteen, my mother decided to stop her task as well as happen stay with me full time, simply to possess far better growth as well as much better care. Afterwards, it acquired less complicated. As well as our company transferred to Europe when I was 17. u00e2 $.