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
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...

READ ALSO
Pyramids FC Defeats Mamelodi Sundowns to Claim First African Title
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 2, 2025 0

Egyptian football club, Pyramids FC, has made history lifting its first-ever African title after def...

READ ALSO
Super Eagles Soar to Victory as  Nigeria Clinches 2025 Unity Cup
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 1, 2025 0

The Super Eagles of Nigeria triumphed on Saturday night, defeating Jamaica 5–4 in a penalty sh...

READ ALSO
PSG Claims First UEFA Champions League Title with Stunning 5-0 Victory over Inter Milan
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 1, 2025 0

The French football powerhouse, Paris Saint-Germain Football Club, has claimed its inaugural UEFA Ch...

READ ALSO
Tinubu Champions Sports as Catalyst for Economic Growth at National Sports Festival
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara May 30, 2025 0

OGUN, Nigeria - President Bola Tinubu has urged governments at all levels to utilize sports as a mea...

READ ALSO
Ogun Calls Athlete Protest "Impatience" Amid Unpaid Allowances
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara May 29, 2025 0

OGUN, Nigeria - The Ogun State Government has labeled the protest held by athletes representing the...

READ ALSO
Tottenham Triumphs in Europa League Final with 1-0 Victory Over Man United
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara May 22, 2025 0

Brennan Johnson's scruffy goal brought Tottenham's 17-year trophy drought to an end with a hard-foug...

READ ALSO
Leon Balogun Bids Farewell to Rangers, After Contract Expires
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara May 20, 2025 0

Leon Balogun, a defender for the Nigerian national football team, has left Scottish club Rangers Foo...

OUR CHANNELS:

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...


Nigeria Police Rescue 12 Child Trafficking Victims from Illegal Home
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 2, 2025 0

ABIA, Nigeria - A total of 12 child trafficking victims, including a six-month-old infant, were resc...


Police Stop Mob, Arrest Stepfather for Sexual Assault
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 2, 2025 0

Operatives from the Bauchi State Police Command have successfully prevented a mob from exacting just...


FG Declares Friday, Monday public holiday for Eid-el-Kabir
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 2, 2025 0

The Federal Government has declared Friday, June 6, and Monday, June 9, 2025, as public holidays to...


NECO Set to Launch Computer-Based Tests Examination
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 2, 2025 0

The Registrar and Chief Executive of the National Examination Council (NECO), Prof. Dantani Ibrahim...


Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Set to Appear in Court as F G Files Defamation Charges
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 2, 2025 0

The suspended senator for Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, is scheduled to...


Lagos Govt. Threaten Closure of Market, Over Non-Compliance of Environmental Regulations
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 2, 2025 0

LAGOS, Nigeria - The Lagos State Government issued a warning on Sunday to traders at Alabarago Marke...


FG Unveils 77,400 Units to Combat Nigeria's Housing Shortage
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 2, 2025 0

The Federal Government has launched a groundbreaking initiative as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda,...


LASG Set to Revive Monthly Environmental Sanitation Exercise
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 2, 2025 0

LAGOS, Nigeria - Determined to ensure Lagosians adhere strictly to the hygiene standards that befits...


Pyramids FC Defeats Mamelodi Sundowns to Claim First African Title
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 2, 2025 0

Egyptian football club, Pyramids FC, has made history lifting its first-ever African title after def...


More Articles

Load more...

Menu