More wins, more medals, one marriage for China on August 2 in Paris

Chinese athletes won two gold, two silver and three bronze medals on Friday at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics to keep the country on top of the medal table with an overall total of 13 golds, nine silvers and nine bronzes.

Huang Yaqiong and Zheng Siwei beat Jeong Na-eun and Kim Won-ho of South Korea 21-8, 21-11 in the mixed doubles badminton final to secure the first title in the sport for China at Paris 2024. Not only did the Chinese pair make up for their regrets of finishing second at the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Games three years ago, but they also became the latest mixed doubles "Grand Slam" duo after adding Olympic success to their previous titles at the World Cup and World Championships.

Liu Yuchen, who paired with Ou Xuanyi in the men's doubles badminton competition for China, proposed to his girlfriend Huang with a diamond ring after the mixed doubles final.

"Would you marry me," Liu asked Huang, who was already crying tears of happiness. Congratulatory messages were sent to the couple by their teammates, coaches and fans.

Earlier on Friday, Long Daoyi and Wang Zongyuan won the men's synchronized 3-meter springboard diving final with 446.1 points, adding the fourth gold in the sport for China. They were surpassed by the Mexican pair of Juan Celaya and Osmar Olvera after the fourth dive, but Long and Wang reclaimed the lead in the final two rounds to close out the victory.

Zhang Zhizhen and Wang Xinyu made history by earning China's first-ever silver in the mixed doubles tennis final. The duo battled to three thrilling sets against Tomas Machac and Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic, before losing the close contest 6-2, 5-7, 10-8.

Wang Zisai and Yan Langyu finished the men's trampoline gymnastics final as the silver and bronze medalists, respectively, behind neutral athlete Ivan Litvinovich.

China's other two bronze medals came from Wang Shun, who finished the men's 200-meter medley individual swimming final in 1:56:00 and Zhang Qiongyue, who scored 452.9 points in the women's 50-meter rifle 3 positions shooting final.

Competitors from China also booked places in several more gold medal events. The women's doubles badminton title will go to China. Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan beat Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan of Malaysia in the semifinals. The Chinese pair will compete for gold against compatriots Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning, who defeated Japan's Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida in the other semifinal match.

Sun Yingsha and Chen Meng set up a "Chinese Derby" in the women's singles table tennis final after sweeping past Hina Hayata of Japan and Shin Yu-bin of South Korea, respectively, in the semifinals.

Fan Zhendong beat Felix Lebrun of France in the men's singles table tennis semifinals in 31 minutes and will face Truls Moregardh of Sweden in the final. Moregardh knocked out China's World No. 1 Wang Chuqin in the round of 32 and battled past Brazil's Hugo Calderano in the semifinals.

Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang beat Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia to advance to the men's doubles badminton final. Their opponents for the gold will be Lee Yang and Wang Chi-lin of Chinese Taipei.