Would you like to receive notifications on latest updates of the following headlines?

Olympics Day 6: Chinese Tennis Players Make History , As Biles gifts U.S. 2nd gymnastics gold

POSTED ON August 2, 2024 •   Sports      BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara
Zheng Qinwen of China competes during the women's singles semifinal of tennis against Iga Swiatek of Poland at the Paris Olympics on Aug. 1, 2024. l Credit: Xinhua/Gao Jing

Chinese tennis favourite Zheng Qinwen upset the world No. 1 Iga Swiatek of Poland to reach the women's singles final, while her compatriots Wang Xinyu and Zhang Zhizhen also made history by sailing into the Paris Olympics tennis mixed doubles final on Thursday.

The victories marked China's best result in both of the events at the Olympics, after two-time Grand Slam winner Li Na finished fourth in the women's singles at Beijing 2008.

After a three-set tough win over German veteran Angelique Kerber in quarterfinal on Wednesday, Australian Open finalist Zheng fought even harder to defeat Swiatek 6-2, 7-5 at Roland Garros, ending her six straight losses to the four-time French Open winner.

"I finally showed I could beat the world No.1 on her best surface. I always knew I could do it, but there is a difference between knowing you can and showing it. Now, I feel my mental strength is at another level, and I am just going to give everything I have in the final," said Zheng, who will face the 13th seed Donna Vekic of Croatia on Saturday.

The 21-year-old added, "I am so happy that I can make this history for Chinese tennis. I always wanted to be one of the athletes who can get a medal for China, for our country, and right now I'm one of them."

Chinese pair Wang and Zhang rallied past Demi Schuurs and Wesley Koolhof of the Netherlands 2-6, 6-4, 10-4 in the mixed doubles semifinal. 

The 27-year-old Zhang said, "We just tried to fight every single match, down in the first set, coming back in the second, and winning the super tiebreak. That was amazing. I am super happy about this."

Wang/Zhang will confront Czech's pair Katerina Siniakova and Tomas Machac in the final on Friday.

Early on Thursday, world record holder Yang Jiayu claimed China's first athletics gold at the Paris Olympics, winning the women's 20km race walk in one hour, 25 minutes and 54 seconds.

Ecuador's Brian Daniel Pintado finished first in the men's 20km race walk in one hour, 18 minutes and 55 seconds.

"I started my Olympic journey as a substitute in 2016. At that moment, I started to dream of being a regular athlete to compete at the Olympics even to fight for the gold. So, this is an exciting moment for me.

I have been waiting for this gold medal for eight years," said the 28-year-old Yang, who set the world record in 2021 with 1:23:49 and led the Paris Olympics race almost from the start.

At the Chateauroux Shooting Centre, China's Liu Yukun bagged a gold medal in his Olympic debut after winning the men's 50m rifle 3 positions with 463.6 points, followed by Serhiy Kulish of Ukraine and India's Swapnil Kusale in the second and third place, respectively.

"I am very lucky because the Olympics happened at a time when I was in a good form," said a modest Liu, who has the word "LUCKY" emblazoned on the right leg of his shooting outfit.

Elsewhere, the reigning world champion Biles, 27, who won the all-round gold at Rio 2016 but pulled out of the event in Tokyo three years ago, reclaimed the title at Paris 2024 with 59.131 points, 1.199 ahead of the silver medalist Rebeca Andrade of Brazil, while the bronze went to another American gymnast Sunisa Lee.

"I'm super proud of my performance and the fight I have had for the last three years, mentally and physically, to get back competing on a world stage. The Olympic Games is an amazing experience, so I couldn't be prouder," Biles noted.

The United States also seized a gold in the swimming pool, as Kate Douglass won her first Olympic gold medal by winning the women's 200m breaststroke final in two minutes, 19.24 seconds.

The Australian team of Mollie O'Callaghan, Lani Pallister, Brianna Throssell and Ariarne Titmus finished in an Olympic record time of seven minutes, 38.08 seconds to clinch the women's 4x200m freestyle relay title.

Hubert Kos clinched Hungary's first gold medal at the Paris Olympics by winning the men's 200m backstroke final, while Canada's Summer McIntosh won her second gold medal of the Games in the women's 200m butterfly.

Another three swimming golds will be produced at La Defense Arena on Friday. 

READ ALSO
Technical Adviser of Kano Pillars Football Club Resign
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 13, 2025 0

Kano Pillars Football Club has announced that its Technical Adviser, Usman Abdallah, has resigned ef...

READ ALSO
Team Nigeria Ready for Battle' as Fencers Train for African Championships - NFF President
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 13, 2025 0

Twelve fencers from Nigeria commenced their training camp on Thursday in preparation for the 2025 Af...

READ ALSO
Cristian Chivu Becomes  Inter Milan Head Coach
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 9, 2025 0

Cristian Chivu said goodbye to Parma on Monday ahead of his move to his former club Inter Milan to r...

READ ALSO
Alcaraz Triumphs Over Sinner in Longest Roland Garros Final Ever
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 8, 2025 0

Carlos Alcaraz staged a remarkable comeback from two sets down, saving three championship points to...

READ ALSO
Osimhen Rejects €75M Move to Al Hilal Amid Galatasaray Interest
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 8, 2025 0

Super Eagles forward, Victor Osimhen, has turned down a €75 million proposal from Saudi Arabian...

READ ALSO
World Cup Qualifiers: Nigeria Faces Russia in Key Preparation Match
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 6, 2025 0

Russia will host Nigeria at the famed Luzhniki Stadium on Friday night, marking the inaugural senior...

READ ALSO
Okocha Urges Victor Osimhen to Consider Staying at Galatasaray
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 3, 2025 0

Nigerian football icon Jay-Jay Okocha has shared advice with Victor Osimhen amid growing speculation...

READ ALSO
JUST IN: Former Super Eagles Star Emmanuel Udoh Passes Away
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 2, 2025 0

The team manager of Akwa United and a former defender for the Super Eagles, Emmanuel Udoh, has been...

OUR CHANNELS:

Air India Flight 171: Investigators Uncover Dual Engine Failure as Global Scrutiny Mounts
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 16, 2025 0

AHMEDABAD, India— As the world continues to mourn the tragic loss of 290 lives aboard Air Indi...


New Evidence Deepens Air India 787 Crash Mystery: Dual Engine Failure Now in Focus
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 16, 2025 0

AHMEDABAD, India – As grief continues to hang heavy over the aftermath of Air India Flight 171...


UK Caution Citizens against Traveling To Israel, Iran amid Attacks
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 15, 2025 0

The United Kingdom (UK) has issued a travel advisory for its citizens, recommending that Britons ref...


LASG Launches E-Call-Up System to Regulate Truck Movements Starting June 16
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 15, 2025 0

LAGOS, Nigeria - The Lagos State Government has announced that the increasing traffic from heavy tru...


Tanker Drivers to Cease Operation on Monday amid E-call Charges
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 15, 2025 0

LAGOS, Nigeria - Tanker drivers in Lagos State have announced their intention to cease loading petro...


LASG Clamps Down on Illegal Sewage Disposal in Okota
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 15, 2025 0

The Lagos State Government through the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources sealed a resi...


CBN Governor, Finance Minister to Address Allegations Before House Committee
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 16, 2025 0

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Yemi Cardoso, along with the Minister of Finance,...


NDLEA Alerts Parents: Watch for Suspicious Snacks in Children's Bags
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 16, 2025 0

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has issued a serious warning to parents, advising t...


2027: Tinubu Hosts Key PDP Figures at Aso Rock
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 16, 2025 0

President Bola Tinubu convened a meeting on Saturday evening with prominent members of the oppositio...


Trump Proposes Visa Ban on Nigeria Amid Corruption Concerns
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 15, 2025 0

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has initiated plans to impose a general visa ban o...


More Articles

Load more...

Menu