YOGYAKARTA: Zhang Zhijie, a 17-year-old Chinese badminton player, died during a match in the Badminton Asia Junior Championship in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
He was playing against Japan’s Kazuma Kawano in the opening game on June 30, which was tied 11-11 when he collapsed. He was immediately provided medical treatment, however, could not survive.
Badminton Asia and the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) in a joint statement said China’s Zhang Zhijie, collapsed in the court during a match.
He was shifted to the hospital where he passed away at 23:20 local time yesterday. He was taken to hospital in a standby ambulance in less than two minutes.
“The world of badminton has lost a talented player,” the statement added.
Videos of the incident went viral on social media, showing Zhang collapsing in the court. There has been criticism of officials, with many questioning if quick medical assistance might have saved his life.
According to the BBC, a PBSI spokesman said that medical teams had to follow a rule where they required the permission of a referee before entering the court. Meanwhile, the Indonesian badminton body stated that the player had a sudden cardiac arrest.
The young player, who hailed from Jiaxing in the Chinese province of Zhejiang, joined the national junior squad in 2023 and won many championships.
The China Badminton Association also expressed deep grief and sorrow over the tragic incident. The association in a statement said Zhang Zhijie loved badminton and was an outstanding player.
