Zhang Zhijie, a 17-year-old Chinese badminton player, died after collapsing during a match at the Badminton Asia Junior Championships in Yogyakarta, Indonesia on June 30, 2024. Zhang was competing against Japan’s Kazuma Kawano when he suddenly fell to the court, experiencing seizures. Despite medical attention, he died later that night.
Footage of the incident, which has gone viral, shows a 40-second delay before medical personnel arrived to assist him. Zhang was transported to a local hospital and then transferred to Dr. Sardjito General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead from sudden cardiac arrest.
The delay in medical response has sparked outrage and scrutiny. Critics argue that the response was inadequate, with reports indicating that an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) was not immediately available. Broto Happy, spokesperson for the Badminton Association of Indonesia, explained that the medical team’s response was delayed due to a rule requiring the referee’s permission before entering the court. This rule has been heavily criticized, with many calling for its reevaluation. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has stated that it will review these protocols to ensure athlete safety in future competitions.
The Chinese Badminton Association released a statement expressing its sorrow and gratitude for the support received: “We feel deeply distressed over Zhang Zhijie’s death from a sudden illness while competing in an international competition. We thank everyone for their concern and support for Zhang Zhijie. We will do our utmost to assist Zhang Zhijie’s family.
Badminton Asia and the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) expressed their deepest sorrow in a joint statement: “The world of badminton has lost a gifted player.” They also pledged to comprehensively review the incident to enhance athlete safety in future tournaments.
Athletes and organizations worldwide have mourned Zhang’s loss. A moment of silence was observed during the tournament’s quarterfinals, and players wore black armbands in his honor. Indian badminton star P.V. Sindhu described Zhang’s death as “heartbreaking” and extended her deepest condolences to his family.
Zhang, who started playing badminton in kindergarten and recently won the singles title at the Dutch Junior International, was seen as a rising star. His death has left a significant impact on the badminton community.
