Sun, Wang restore table tennis glory for China with mixed doubles gold

Chinese athletes won one gold and one silver medals for China at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris on Tuesday. Sun Yingsha and Wang Chuqin claimed the mixed doubles table tennis title, the one the team missed in the debut of the event at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago.

Wang Chuqin and Sun defeated Ri Jong Sik and Kim Kum Yong of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) 4-2 respectively in the mixed doubles final on Tuesday. The scores of the six games were 11-6, 7-11, 11-8, 11-5, 7-11, 11-8. Back in 2021 in Tokyo, Liu Shiwen and Xu Xin lost to Mima Ito and Jun Mitzutani of Japan in the event's final.

Wang Chuqin's paddle was damaged by excited photographers rushing to capture the victorious moment of the Chinese pair. Having felt frustrated at the beginning, he soon regained his composure.

"I guess they didn't mean it. I can't do anything now that it's already happened. I believe I'll still be able to play well with my backup bat. Maybe this is fate," he said.

Qi Ying added the trap men's shooting silver for China with an Olympic record 44 points, behind the 48 points by gold medalist Nathan Hales of Britain. The bronze medal went to Jean Pierre Brol of Guatemala.

Simone Biles of USA reached the top of the podium after helping her team win the artistic gymnastics women's team final. It was her fifth Olympic gold medal and made her the most decorated American gymnast.

In the swimming pool of the Olympic Aquatics Centre at the Paris La Defense Arena, Pan Zhanle earned himself a spot in the men's 100-meter freestyle final by finishing the semifinals in 47,21 seconds. Yang Junxuan advanced to the women's 100-meter freestyle final as well. The two plus Dong Zhihao of the men's 200-meter breaststroke event will go for the first swimming gold medal for China.

Team China continued to progress in other events as well. Wang Lili's buzzer-beater led to the 21-19 win over the hosts France in the women's 3x3 basketball game. 

Zheng Qinwen went through a long tennis match of three hours and 12 minutes to defeat Emma Navarro of USA 6-7, 7-6(4), 6-1 in the women's singles event. Zheng withdrew from the mixed doubles competitions later. Wang Xinyu paired with Zhang Zhizhen in the event, beating Luisa Stefani and Thiago Seyboth Wild of Brazil 3-6, 6-3, 10-8.