Zhang Zhijie, a 17-year-old up-and-coming badminton player, collapsed and died during a match at the Badminton Asian Junior Championships in Yogyakarta, Indonesia on Sunday. According to TMZ.
Zhijie was reportedly removed from the floor on a stretcher and taken in an ambulance to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The Indonesian badminton association, PBSI, later said Zijie suffered sudden cardiac arrest. From the BBC.
Citing video of the incident, TMZ reported that Zhi Jie, who was facing off against Japan’s Kono Kazuma from China, fell to the floor and appeared to have a seizure, adding that help arrived on the scene more than 35 seconds later.
A PBSI spokesman told reporters that the medical team had followed rules to seek permission from the referee before entering the court.
“This is in accordance with the rules and procedural standards that apply to all international badminton tournaments,” he said.
The Badminton World Federation said it would investigate whether proper procedures were followed during the tragic incident.
“The death of Zhang at the Badminton Asia Junior Championships in Yogyakarta, Indonesia is a tragic event and we are taking all necessary steps, in consultation with the Badminton Asia Federation and the Indonesian Badminton Association, to thoroughly investigate this matter,” TMZ reported.
Badminton players held a moment of silence in memory of Zhijie at the Asian Junior Badminton Championships at the Amon Rogo Sports Centre on Monday.
The Badminton Association of Malaysia also held a moment of silence at its tournament on Sunday, according to a video posted on X.
“We will observe one minute of silence in honour of the late Zhang Zhijie. May he rest in peace,” the BAM account posted.
