Gold medalist Chen Meng (C) of China, silver medalist Sun Yingsha (R) of China and bronze medalist Hayata Hina of Japan attend the victory ceremony for the table tennis women's singles at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France on Aug. 3, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

As the award ceremony at the South Paris Arena came to a close, the crowd roared almost deliriously for Sun Yingsha, who sat by the sidelines with a faint air of melancholy, watching her elder compatriot Chen Meng beam atop the podium.

In the women's singles final on Saturday, 30-year-old Chen triumphed over the world's top-ranked Sun, with a 4-2 victory, making history as world's oldest female Olympic champion of the event and proving she still had plenty of fuel in her tank.

This scene was strikingly reminiscent of the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, where an in-form Chen also defeated a then 20-year-old Sun with the same scoreline of 4-2. However, the journey to this victory told a different tale.

Journey to Paris

Over the past three years, Sun had ascended to the pinnacle of her career, becoming the world's best, while Chen, after her initial burst of brilliance, had fewer standout achievements.

"Reaching the final with her is a tremendous honor. I'm no longer the same as I was at the Tokyo Olympics. I hope I won't have any regrets this time," Sun remarked before the final.

But the pillar of China's table tennis team was left with a lasting regret. With an impressive run of five consecutive 4-0 victories in the knockout stages, Sun was poised to achieve the grand slam of World Championships, World Cup, and Olympic singles titles. She could have shattered China's star male paddler Zhang Jike's record, becoming the fastest player to complete the feat in just 433 days.

"I didn't expect to win, and it was a huge surprise," said Chen after the game. "Given my age and the many defeats to Shasha (Sun's nickname) in the past three years, I approached today's match with the mindset of a challenger."

Statistics echoed Chen's words, revealing a noticeable gap between the two elite players. In their recent 16 encounters prior to Saturday's final, Sun had won 11 times, and Chen had rarely clinched gold in major singles events.

Following her Tokyo Games setback, Sun honed her skills meticulously, turning her wrist into a precise instrument. Her speed, power, and unpredictable playing style often left her opponents bewildered.

While not as technically proficient as Sun, Chen's greatest asset is her mental resilience. On the grand stage of an Olympic final, even a slight lapse in mentality could alter the course of the match.

Battle of mental resilience

This high-caliber final saw a massive audience. Known for her candid personality and stylish play, Sun has garnered a legion of fans cheering her on. Fueled by their support, she started strong, taking the first set 11-4.

The 23-year-old's strategy was clear: keep it unpredictable. She dominated in terms of changes in ball direction and speed. Whenever the rally extended, a slight variation in her play would leave Chen struggling, either watching the ball fly past or hitting it out of bounds.

However, Chen gradually found her rhythm and remained steady. In this all-Chinese showdown, neither player had their coach present. The younger Sun seemed overwhelmed, losing the second and third sets consecutively.

Before the fourth set, Sun sat courtside, deep in thought, sipping water to regain her composure. She quickly reclaimed her confidence, leading 10-5 in the fourth set. Yet, the relentless Chen clawed back to 10-9. Sun called a timeout, calmly sipping water once more, and it paid off, evening the score at 2-2.

The pivotal fifth set saw both players locked in a stalemate. Chen, though on the defensive against Sun's powerful returns, remained unfazed, clinching the set 11-9.

The final set started neck and neck, but as Chen, now acclimated to Sun's variable play, faced only the challenge of stamina. Leading 9-6, she called a timeout to recharge. Meanwhile, Sun, desperate to turn the tide, ultimately fell to Chen's calm and composure.

Final with no loser

"Although the scores were same, the process was entirely different," Sun reflected, comparing the loss with that of three years ago. "Today's match was a battle of dreams and goals. I want to congratulate Chen on her second consecutive Olympic singles gold medal."

"I believe there are no losers today, as we secured both gold and silver for China. This match upholds the honor of Chinese table tennis, and both of us reaching the final is an achievement worth celebrating," said Chen.

Saturday's final saw the Chinese table tennis team continue the streak with their 10th consecutive women's singles Olympic title since the sport joined the Olympic roster in 1988. This also marked the fifth straight Olympics where China claimed both gold and silver in the event.

Moreover, thanks to Sun and her teammate Wang Chuqin, China redeemed their Tokyo Olympics loss by clinching the mixed doubles gold, aiming for a five-gold medal haul in Paris.

When Sun first emerged, she was Chen's sparring partner, and the two shared a sisterly bond. After the match, an elated Chen hugged Sun, whispering words of encouragement in her ear.

"Winning a gold is a dream we both have, but only one can triumph. The one who loses will undoubtedly be disappointed," Chen said.

"When I hugged her, I told her to keep fighting. Four years is a long time for an athlete, but with hard work and perseverance, anything is possible," she added.

Savoring the bitter loss, Sun, however, already looks ahead with determination.

"I'm still young, and I believe I have the chance to compete in the next Olympics. Over the next four years, I need to carefully plan my mindset and desires," Sun said.