A 17-year-old Chinese badminton prodigy, Zhang Zhijie, tragically passed away due to cardiac arrest following a collapse on the court during a tournament in Indonesia, officials announced on Monday.
Zhang suddenly fell ill during his match against Japan's Kazuma Kawano at the Asia Junior Championships in Yogyakarta on Sunday evening. The match was tied at 11-11 in the first game when Zhang collapsed between points. Despite immediate on-site treatment and subsequent emergency transport to a hospital, all attempts to revive him were unsuccessful, and he died later that night.
Broto Happy, spokesperson for the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI), confirmed at a press conference in Yogyakarta that medical examinations concluded Zhang suffered from sudden cardiac arrest. Zhang's parents were en route to the city to claim his body.
The spokesperson clarified that medical personnel had to await the referee's permission to enter the court, addressing concerns over a delayed response as seen in circulated footage. The badminton community, including Badminton Asia and the PBSI, mourned the loss of a promising talent in a joint statement.
Zhang, who began playing badminton in kindergarten, was a member of China's national youth team and had recently won the singles title at the prestigious Dutch Junior International. The Chinese Badminton Association expressed profound sorrow, honoring Zhang as an exceptional athlete.
In a show of respect, the team tournament observed a moment of silence, and the Chinese team donned black armbands before resuming competition, where they defeated Taiwan 3-0. Notable players like P.V. Sindhu, who has Olympic medals, also shared their condolences on social media, highlighting the devastating loss of a remarkable talent.
The Badminton World Federation extended its condolences to Zhang's family, teammates, and the entire Chinese badminton community, acknowledging the profound impact of his untimely demise.
