China's top paddlers Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha clinched the first-ever Olympic gold in mixed doubles table tennis at the Paris 2024 Games, overcoming DPR Korea in a thrilling 4-2 match and setting the stage for potential dominance in the remaining events.
by sportswriters He Leijing, Yue Ranran and Wang Yunjia
PARIS, July 30 (Xinhua) -- In a crescendo of thunderous applause, China's top-seeded pair Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha let out a collective sigh of relief. The dynamic duo pumped their fists triumphantly before turning to embrace each other, reveling in the sweet joy of redemption, as China's table tennis team, having missed out on the mixed doubles gold in Tokyo, seized the moment in Paris.
The 4-2 victory over DPR Korea marked China's first gold in table tennis at the Paris Olympics and their first-ever Olympic gold in the mixed doubles event. Securing this win also set the stage for their potential sweep of all five gold medals in table tennis at the Games, signaling their unwavering dominance in the sport.
"I would give my life for this gold medal," said Wang. The 23-year-old unleashed his full prowess in the final set after the DPRK pair had stormed back in the fifth to make it 3-2 at 11-7. His powerful returns left the opponents with no room to counter.
"This mixed doubles gold is probably the medal I wanted the most. We put in so much for this, but now that we've got it, it all feels worth it. This is not just ours, but it's also the entire team's," Wang said. "Winning this gold feels like a weight has been lifted from our shoulders."
The South Paris Arena, where the eye-catching contest was staged, reverberated with deafening cheers on Tuesday afternoon, with Chinese flags being waved throughout the venue. And back in China, millions of fans watched breathlessly on screens, believing that their formidable duo would reclaim the traditional stronghold's golden glory.
Their opponents, however, were enigmatic. The Olympic debut of DPRK's Ri Jong Sik and Kim Kum Yong marked their country's return to the Olympic stage after an eight-year hiatus. The duo, who emerged as dark horses after defeating powerhouses including Japan, had rarely appeared in international competitions and were reticent with the media.
"We've never played our opponents before, so this match required a lot more effort in terms of preparation. We repeatedly watched their match videos," said Sun, the world number one in women's singles. "We were fighting for a comeback victory, and we fought hard to win. We really did it."
The reserved DPRK pair indeed posed a significant challenge, especially with their unconventional tactics. Their use of long-pimpled bats and lightning-fast returns put the Chinese duo on the back foot several times.
"Both sides put up a very good fight today in the final, and we did encounter some problems in the match," Sun acknowledged.
Still and all, the DPRK pair's lack of major competition experience took its toll, with frequent unforced errors in the early stages of the game. Lady Luck also seemed to go for the Chinese pair as most of the net touches landed in their favor.
"This moment belongs to you," Liu Guoliang, vice president of the International Table Tennis Federation and a Chinese table tennis legend, said to the juniors, as he awarded the gold medals to the victorious duo.
"I'm thankful to my partner for all the work we put in over the last three years," Sun said, noting that they had known each other since childhood and grown up together. "We're pleased with the result today, and hope we'll continue to do well in the upcoming events."
With China's table tennis team in blazing form, expectations are high for them to continue their golden streak in the remaining events at the Paris Olympics.
"Every gold medal depends on hard work. We can't win it simply because we show up, or because people say we're going to," Wang reflected on the win with measured calm, adding that he plans to celebrate it with his preparation for his singles match scheduled on the next day. ■
