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).
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). 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.
“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.”
