Paris, France, August 2, 2024: China demonstrated their power and artistry with a dazzling display of badminton to win the mixed doubles gold medal at La Chapelle Arena Court 1 on Friday, August 2.
Chinese top seeds Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong demolished the unseeded Koreans Kim Won Ho and Jeong Na Eun with a relentless and ferocious performance, sealing victory 21-8, 21-11 in 41 dizzying minutes.
Every Chinese point was greeted by a deafening roar from the huge Chinese contingent in the stands, while the smattering of Korean flags were rarely raised.
There was simply no escape for the Koreans from China’s relentless barrage, as Zheng commanded the back of the court and battered the Korean defence with a series of steepling, vicious smashes. With the Koreans all at sea and out of position, Huang was able to find the space at the front of the court and pick off winners to finish another exhilarating move.
It was a supreme performance from the Chinese top seeds, and set the benchmark for Team China in the remaining four events to come in men’s and women’s doubles and singles over the next three days.
After sealing victory, the fired-up Zheng celebrated with a series of victory roars in front of the Chinese spectators, before Huang threw her racket into the crowd. Zheng followed suit, giving some lucky fans a memorable souvenir from Paris 2024.
Zheng would later pass his gold medal to his wife in the stands for safe keeping – but the drama and romance had only just begun.
As the players were led around the arena, a bouquet of flowers awaited Huang – and that was not all. Men’s doubles player Liu Yuchen went down on one knee and offered Huang a sparkling ring.
She put it on her finger – and the crowd roared again.
“It was very surprising because I have been preparing for the Games,” Huang said. “Today I became an Olympic champion and I also received a proposal of marriage which I did not expect. The ring fit perfectly on my finger.
Regarding the match, Zheng said they were motivated by losing the final three years ago in Tokyo. “We have been preparing for today for three years,” he said. “We really built our confidence and a wise strategy.
“Three years ago, we worked hard. This time we worked smartly – and trained smartly as well, so we could perform better.
“This is the biggest dream I have. I think a lot but now my mind has gone blank.
“All my family is here; they bought the tickets last year to come here. This might be my last Olympics so I had to bring my family here because they give me strength. My family’s support brings me more strength than I could expect.”
On their performance in the final, Zheng added: “We prepared as much as we possibly could. We used every skill we have. I focused all of my energy on this Olympic Games. Huang brings me strength."
In the mixed doubles bronze medal match, Japan’s fourth seeds Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino beat Korea’s left-handed pairing of Seo Seung Jae and Chae Yu Jung, seeded three, in straight games, 21-13, 22-20, in 50 minutes.
After winning the first game convincingly, the Japanese pair survived a Korean comeback in the second game. Japan missed two match points at 20-18 and eventually won the match, and the bronze medal, on their third match point for 22-20.
MALAYSIAN TEAMS MISS OUT
The women’s doubles final on Saturday, August 3 will be an all-China affair between top seeds Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan and third seeds Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning.
In the semi-finals on Friday, Chen and Fan defeated Malaysia’s unseeded Pearly Tan and Muralitharan Thinaah 21-12, 18-21, 21-15.
Liu and Tan ended the hopes of Japan’s fourth seeds Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida in straight games, 21-16, 21-19.
In the men’s doubles semi-finals on Friday, China also defeated Malaysia as top seeds Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang beat the unseeded Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik 21-19, 15-21, 21-17.
In the men’s doubles final on Sunday, August 4, the Chinese will play Chinese Taipei’s Lee Yang and Wang Chi-Lin, who defeated the Danish second seeds Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen 2-1. The CTOC pair fought back from losing the first game 18-21 to take the next two 21-17, 21-10 to guarantee at least a silver medal.