Love takes centre stage: Badminton gold medallist Huang Yaqiong receives surprise marriage proposal at Paris 2024 Olympics

A gold medal wasn't all that was waiting for People's Republic of China’s Huang Yaqiong after she won the badminton mixed doubles title alongside partner Zheng Siwei at Paris 2024.

The pair saw off South Korea's Kim Won-ho and Jeong Na-eun 21-8, 21-11 in less than 45 minutes to claim victory, having picked up the silver medal at Tokyo 2020.

Watching on at La Chapelle Arena was Huang's boyfriend Liu Yuchen, the men’s singles player who won silver in men's doubles in Tokyo.

After Huang's victory lap, Liu gifted his girlfriend with a congratulatory bouquet of flowers and got down on one knee to present an engagement ring, much to the delight of many cheering fans.

Huang accepted the proposal before describing it as “very surprising”.

"I had been preparing for the match," she told the media after.

"Today I became an Olympic champion and I got engaged. I think the ring fits my finger really well."

Zheng Siwei, Huang’s badminton partner, got engaged at Tokyo 2020 after they lost the gold medal final.

“I think it must be happier for her,” Zheng said. “Last time it was purely for my proposal, but this time is basically double lucky things happening at the same time.”

Paris 2024 marks the consecutive sixth Olympic Games that Team People's Republic of China have medalled in badminton.

Zheng believes that losing the final at Tokyo 2020 helped them achieve gold in Paris.

"In Tokyo we didn't prepare very wisely," he said.

"We worked very hard then but this time we have trained and played in a smarter way. That's why I felt we could perform better this time."

Team China find themselves with another guaranteed gold ahead of the women’s doubles final on Saturday, with an all-China final as Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan face Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning.