In a tragic turn of events, 17-year-old Chinese badminton player Zhang Zhijie collapsed and died during the Badminton Asia Junior Championships. According to a report by Marca, the incident occurred on June 30 while Zhang was playing against Japan’s Kazuma Kawano. The match, tied at 11-11, took a devastating turn when Zhang suddenly collapsed on the court.
Immediate medical response
Despite immediate medical attention, Zhang was pronounced dead at the hospital. Badminton Asia and the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) released a joint statement on Monday: “China’s Zhang Zhijie, a singles player, collapsed on the court during a match in the evening. He was sent to the hospital where he passed away at 23:20 local time yesterday. He was attended to by the tournament doctor and medical team. He was taken in the standby ambulance in less than two minutes and sent to hospital.” The statement poignantly added, “The world of badminton has lost a talented player.”
Viral video and public criticism
A video of the incident has gone viral, showing a 40-second delay before emergency personnel attended to Zhang. The footage has sparked widespread criticism, with many questioning if quicker medical intervention could have saved his life. The video shows a man rushing to help Zhang but stopping midway, awaiting further instructions.
Procedural regulations
A PBSI spokesman later explained to the BBC that “medical teams had to follow a rule where they needed the referee’s permission before entering the court.” He added, “That is in accordance with the regulations and standards of procedure that apply to every international badminton tournament.” The Indonesian badminton body confirmed that Zhang experienced a sudden cardiac arrest.
Promising career cut short
Originally from Jiaxing in the Chinese province of Zhejiang, Zhang joined the national junior squad in 2023. He had already made significant achievements, winning multiple championships, including team and men’s titles in Group B of the China Badminton Junior Championships in 2023 and 2024.
Tributes and condolences
The China Badminton Association expressed deep sorrow, stating, “Zhang Zhijie loved badminton and was an outstanding athlete of the national youth badminton team.
At present, the local hospital has not yet identified the cause of death.”
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu also expressed her condolences on social media. “Absolutely heartbreaking news coming from the Junior Asian Badminton Championships about the loss of young badminton player Zhang Zhijie,” she wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “I offer my deepest condolences to Zhang’s family during this devastating time. The world has lost a remarkable talent today.”
Zhang Zhijie’s untimely death has left the badminton community and his fans in shock and mourning. His promising career and vibrant spirit will be remembered by all who knew and admired him.