'One day I hope China's flag is the highest': Guo and Wang trailblaze
Guo Luoyao and Wang Ziying have the honour of being the first Chinese players to win a Paralympic Wheelchair Tennis medal after triumphing in the Paris 2024 women’s doubles bronze medal match.
China, P.R. were guaranteed to make history today with Guo and Wang facing fellow countrywomen Li Xiaohui and Zhu Zhenzhen on Court Suzanne Lenglen, but it was the former who made the podium following a 7-6(4) 6-3 win.
Guo and Wang ensured China, P.R. are the 14th nation to win a Paralympic medal in wheelchair tennis since the sport was introduced to the Games as a full-medal event at the 1992 Paralympics in Barcelona.
Prior to Paris 2024, the closest China, P.R. came to winning a medal was three years ago at Tokyo 2020 when Zhu and Wang joined forces to finish fourth in the women's doubles. The duo lost the bronze medal match to Japan’s Yui Kamiji and Momoko Ohtani.
View this post on Instagram
“I was really emotional because this is a historic breakthrough for China,” said Guo. “It’s the first time we’ve got a medal in Paralympic Wheelchair Tennis. No matter which side won, it would have been a victory for China.
“I could never have thought that I would win a Paralympic medal on my debut. When I first started playing the sport, I merely wanted to do as well as I could on the international circuit.
“Every small step we took at global events, including big ones like the Parapan Asian Games, helped lead us here. When we were on the podium looking at the flags being raised, I hoped in my heart that China would one day also fly the highest.
“This is something that we will fight for and work towards for the next Paralympic Games.”
View this post on Instagram
The performance of Chinese here in Paris players supports the argument – and evidence – that wheelchair tennis within China is very much on the rise both in terms of participation and popularity.
Indeed, the four players involved in the women’s doubles bronze medal match are the same four that stunned Netherlands to be crowned BNP Paribas World Team Cup champions in May. All four have now made their mark on the Paralympic stage.
“I’ve had this dream of being on a Paralympic podium since I was a kid, so this is a very emotional moment for me,” said Wang, who will play Aniek van Koot of Netherlands in tomorrow’s women's singles bronze medal match.
“This is just the start of our journey – we still have a long road ahead. This is a bronze medal, and I feel there is still a lot of room for us to work hard and strive for a better result at the next Paralympic Games.”