PARIS: China won their second badminton gold of the Paris Olympics on Saturday when Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan beat compatriots Liu Shengshu-Tan Ning in the women's doubles final.
The top-seeded Qingchen-Yifan 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-Chiharu Shida took bronze after beating Malaysia's Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah 21-11, 21-11.
China have topped the badminton medals table at the past six Olympics.
Qingchen-Yifan found themselves in trouble towards the end of a tight first game when Shengshu-Ning 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 Shengshu-Ning scrapping hard for every point.
Qingchen-Yifan 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-Zheng Siwei won the mixed doubles final.
They have a chance to win another when top seeds Liang Weikeng=Wang Chan take on Taiwan's defending champions Lee Yang-Wang Chi Lin in the men's doubles final on Sunday. - AFP PIC