A promising teenage badminton star died suddenly from cardiac arrest while on the court; he was just 17 years old.
Zhang Zhijie suddenly collapsed in the middle of a match against Japan’s Kazuma Kawano at the Asia Junior Championships in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Medics rushed to Zhijie’s aid before he was taken to the hospital by ambulance.
However, the teen tragically died.
Badminton Asia confirmed Zhijie’s death in a statement:
“The world of badminton has lost a talented player.”
“Zhijie was playing a group match against Japan when he collapsed.”
“He was attended by the tournament doctor and medical team and was sent to the hospital in a standby ambulance in less than two minutes.”
“He passed away at 11.30 pm local time on June 30.”
“Badminton Asia, PBSI and the organising committee are immensely saddened and expressed their deepest condolences to Zhijie’s parents, family and China Badminton Association (CBA).”
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17 year-old Chinese badminton player dies suddenly.
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) July 1, 2024
Zhang Zhijie has died of cardiac arrest after collapsing on the court during a professional tournament in Indonesia.pic.twitter.com/oC3ukuo2MA
“Medical conclusions … indicated that the victim experienced sudden cardiac arrest,” Broto Happy, spokesman for the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI), told a press conference after the incident.
China’s badminton association said they were “deeply saddened” by his passing.
“Zhang Zhijie loved badminton and was an outstanding athlete of the national youth badminton team,” the CBA said in a statement.
June 30: 17-year-old 🇨🇳 badminton player Zhang Zhijie (张志杰) died after collapsing on the court during a mixed team match — while playing his boys singles match against 🇯🇵 Kazuma Kawano — at the Asian Junior Championships in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. pic.twitter.com/X8jYN2Jmd3
— Byron Wan (@Byron_Wan) July 1, 2024
India’s Olympic silver and bronze winner, PV Sindhu, called Zhang’s death “absolutely heartbreaking”.
“I offer my deepest condolences to Zhang’s family during this devastating time,” Sindhu, who was not at the tournament, wrote on X.
“The world has lost a remarkable talent today.”
