In the early hours of August 4 Beijing time, HUST undergraduate Zheng Qinwen from the School of Physical Education won the gold medal in the women’s tennis singles final at the Paris Olympics 2024. She defeated Croatian player Donna Vekic 2-0, securing China’s first Olympic gold in tennis singles and setting a new milestone in Chinese tennis history.

HUST promptly sent a congratulatory letter to the Chinese sports delegation and Zheng Qinwen.

HUST faculty and students gathered in the multi-media classroom at Optics Valley Gymnasium to watch and witness Zheng Qinwen’s glorious moment of victory. The HUST Alumni Association in France organized a support group to cheer for Zheng Qinwen at the event.

This was Zheng Qinwen’s first participation in the Olympics. On July 27, she faced 37-year-old Italian veteran Sara Errani and advanced to the second round with two 6-0 sets. On July 29, she defeated Dutch star Arantxa Rus 2-0, smoothly advancing to the women’s singles round of 16. On July 30, after a three-hour battle under the scorching sun, Zheng Qinwen overturned fast-rising American Emma Navarro 2-1 to enter the quarterfinals. On July 31, in another three-hour match, Zheng Qinwen came from behind to beat German veteran Angelique Kerber 2-1, reaching the semifinals and equaling the Olympic record set by HUST alumna Li Na in Beijing. On August 1, Zheng Qinwen defeated the current world number one in women’s singles, Iga Swiatek from Poland, 2-0 in the semifinals, securing her spot in the final.

Written and Edited by: Chang Wen, Peng Yumeng