Paris: The 2024 Paris Olympics mixed doubles event has come to a conclusion and the World No. 1 pair Zheng Siwei/Huang Yaqiong who suffered a heartbreaking loss to teammates Wang Yilyu/Huang Dongping in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics final with a score of 17-21, 21-17, 19-21, finally able to add the Olympic gold medal to their achievement list by winning the 2024 Paris Olympic gold.
Facing World No. 8 Kim Won Ho/Jeong Na Eun of Korea in the final on Friday, the first set saw Zheng Siwei/Huang Yaqiong totally controlling the rhythm with Zheng kept unleashing powerful smashes from the backcourt while Huang was quick in covering the net, and Zheng/Huang quickly wrap up the game 21-8.
Zheng/Huang faced some resistance from Kim/Jeong early in the second game, while Zheng was seen to be a little exhausted from his aggressive play in the first game. Nevertheless, the World No. 1 pair quickly regrouped and regained their composure, starting to control and dominate the game after the interval, with several beautiful backhand cross-court shots from Zheng, cruising to their gold medal victory with the score of 21-11.
Both Zheng and Huang were so excited after scoring the gold medal point, and Huang fell to the floor momentarily to enjoy the victory.
Interestingly, rumors about Huang Yaqiong and China’s top men’s doubles player Liu Yuchen’s relationship have been circulating for a while, but they have never publicly confirmed their romance. After the Olympic medal ceremony, as Huang Yaqiong was heading back to the locker room, Liu Yuchen was waiting at the entrance. He presented her with a bouquet of flowers, knelt down, and proposed with a ring. Although it was not audible whether Huang accepted the proposal, their walk back together suggested a positive outcome.
In the bronze medal match, after winning the bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics, Yuta Watanabe/Arisa Higashino of Japan win their second Olympic bronze medal by beating reigning World Champions Seo Seung-Jae/Chae Yoo-Jung 21-13, 22-20.
