The Touching China Award 2024 ceremony was broadcast on Aug 16 across CCTV-13 and other major new media platforms, revealing this year’s honorees. Among them was Zheng Qinwen, a 2023 undergraduate in sports training at the School of Physical Education of Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST).

In August 2024, Zheng etched her name into history at the Paris 2024 Olympics by winning China’s first-ever gold medal in women’s singles tennis. The triumph marked a new chapter in the country’s tennis legacy.

Her path to success has been defined by determination and grit, enduring solitude and pushing through years of grueling training to rise on the international stage.

Beginning her professional career in August 2020 at just 17 years old with a world ranking of 630, she quickly earned a reputation as a “champion collector”, climbing into the top 50 within two years.

Zheng is the fourth member of HUST to be honored with the Touching China Award, joining Gui Xi’en, Wu Mengchao, and Zhang Dingyu.