Badminton: China win Olympic women's doubles for second badminton gold

China won their second badminton gold of the Paris Olympics on Saturday when Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan beat compatriots Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning in the women's doubles final.

AFP , Saturday 3 Aug 2024,

 Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan
China's Chen Qingchen, right, and Jia Yifan play against their compatriots Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning during their women's doubles badminton gold medal match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, in Paris, France. AP

 

The top-seeded Chen and Jia took silver at the Tokyo Games three years ago but they went one better at La Chapelle Arena, winning a tense contest 22-20, 21-15.

Japan's Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida took bronze after beating Malaysia's Pearly Tan and Muralitharan Thinaah 21-11, 21-11.

China have topped the badminton medals table at the past six Olympics.

Chen and Jia found themselves in trouble towards the end of a tight first game when Liu and Tan moved into 20-16 lead.

But the top seeds fended off four straight game points and rode the momentum to close out the first game.

They took an early lead in the second game and kept up a healthy cushion despite Liu and Tan scrapping hard for every point.

Chen and Jia wrapped up the win before joining their beaten opponents in holding a Chinese flag and waving to the crowd.

China grabbed their first gold of the Paris Games on Friday when Huang Yaqiong and Zheng Siwei won the mixed doubles final.

They have a chance to win another when top seeds Liang Weikeng and Wang Chan take on Taiwan's defending champions Lee Yang and Wang Chi-lin in the men's doubles final on Sunday.

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