Young Chinese Shuttle Star Passes Away During Tournament Match
In a tragic turn of events, 17-year old Chinese badminton player Zhang Zhi Jie collapsed and succumbed to his injuries during a match at the ongoing Badminton Asia Junior Championships in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. According to statements from the organizers and the Indonesia Badminton Association, Zhang was competing against Japan's Kazuma Kawano in the second game of their contest when he fell unconscious on the court. Medical help was immediately provided and he was rushed to the hospital, however declining health prevented recovery efforts and Zhang passed away shortly after despite emergency care.
The badminton circuit was left in shock and mourning over the sudden demise of the talented junior shuttler. In their joint statement, Badminton Asia, the championships organizers and the Indonesian badminton body extended condolences and praised Zhang for the promise he showed in the sport at a young age. Indian superstar P.V Sindhu, double Olympic medallist, expressed grief on social media saying “the world has lost an extraordinary talent”.
Play was halted for the day as a mark of respect after the tragic incident. The team championships continued thereafter while the individual category kicking off next week will now see the Chinese contingent compete in mourning of their fallen compatriot. The unexpected collapse of Zhang Zhi Jie has cast a pall of sadness over the tournaments and is a reminder of the risks athletes sometimes have to take in pursuit of excellence.
