A 17-year-old Chinese player named Zhang Chi Jie has died unexpectedly after collapsing on the court during an Asian championship in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. According to the Indonesian Badminton Federation, Zhang was facing Japanese player Kazuma Kawano in the Asian Junior Badminton Championships on Sunday when he staggered before collapsing unconscious on the court. A video posted on social media captured the moment the player suddenly fell to the ground before being pronounced dead after being taken to the hospital.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Badminton officials stated that medical teams treated Zhang on the court and he was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital, later being transferred to the Sardjitoto General Hospital, a major government hospital in Yogyakarta. Indonesian Badminton Federation spokesperson Proto Happy told reporters, "The results of examinations and treatments in both hospitals showed the same findings, confirming that he suffered from a sudden cardiac arrest." The Chinese Badminton Federation extended its condolences and support to Zhang's family, describing him as a player who "loved badminton and was an outstanding athlete in the national youth badminton team."