 win, joining an elite group of players who have won back-to-back Olympic gold medals in table tennis, following in the footsteps of Deng Yaping (1992, 1996) and Zhang Yining (2004, 2008). ){kind=link}
The Women’s Singles table tennis event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games has reached its thrilling conclusion, marked by thrilling victories.
Chen Meng successfully defended her Olympic women’s singles title, triumphing over world number 1 Sun Yingsha in an exhilarating final. The 2nd seed clinched victory with a 4-2 (4-11, 11-7, 11-4, 9-11, 11-9, 11-6) win, joining an elite group of players who have won back-to-back Olympic gold medals in table tennis, following in the footsteps of Deng Yaping (1992, 1996) and Zhang Yining (2004, 2008).
The match was a showcase of exceptional talent, with both players delivering outstanding performances. Sun Yingsha, despite a valiant effort, saw the gold medal continue to elude her. The final was a dramatic encounter, with Sun Yingsha starting strong, winning the first game 11-4. Chen Meng responded by taking the second and third games 11-7 and 11-4, respectively. Sun Yingsha leveled the match by winning the fourth game 11-9, but Chen Meng regained the lead in the fifth game with an 11-9 win and secured her victory in the sixth game with an 11-6 triumph.
Speaking after her win, Chen Meng said, “there are no failures in this gold medal match. To be able to win another gold and silver for China table tennis, we’ve both done our jobs. We were playing for our own dreams out there. I was the underdog today. I didn’t think about winning the match, so I’m quite surprised myself. It feels like I’ve done the impossible. In the last two years, I’ve almost never taken a victory against ShaSha (Sun Yingsha). Her technique is at its best, she’s become such a mature player, she’s at her prime. Perhaps I had a better mentality today. This is how things are on the Olympic stage. There are so many possibilities. You have to be bold to dream, and don’t give up when there are challenges. Whether in life, or on the court, there will always be a way to find a breakthrough.”
In the bronze medal match, Hina Hayata of Japan earned her place on the podium by defeating Korea Republic’s Shin Yubin 4-2 (9-11, 13-11, 12-10, 11-7, 10-12, 11-7). Hayata displayed remarkable resilience and determination, overcoming a first-game loss to claim victory. This marks the second consecutive Olympic Games with a Japanese player on the women’s singles podium, following Mima Ito’s bronze medal in Tokyo 2020.
The 20-year-old Shin Yubin started strong, winning the first game 11-9, but Hayata adjusted her tactics and her tenacity saw her clinch the second game 13-11, the third game 12-10, and the fourth game 11-7. Although Shin Yubin pulled one back in the fifth game, Hayata closed out the match in the sixth game to secure the bronze medal.
“This bronze medal feels more valuable than gold because of the struggle and effort behind it. Since yesterday, I haven’t been able to practise properly, and my left hand has been almost unusable. I couldn’t even dry my hair or take a bath by myself. Many people helped me, providing care until 4am. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who supported me. Although I’m disappointed with not making it to the final, winning the bronze in these circumstances feels like a greater achievement than a gold medal.”
As we wrap up the singles events, excitement continues with the men’s singles matches on Sunday. At 13:30 (GMT+2), Felix Lebrun, the home favourite, will face South America’s pride, Hugo Calderano for the bronze medal. Following that, at 14:30, Tokyo 2020’s silver medalist, Fan Zhendong will compete against Truls Moregard, who has already made history by ending Sweden’s 24-year wait for an Olympic table tennis medal.
Credit: ITTF