Chinese athlete Huang Ya Qiong, the gold medalist in the mixed doubles badminton event, had just stepped down from the podium when her teammate Liu Yuchen, the silver medalist in men's doubles at the Tokyo Olympics, knelt down and proposed to her during the Paris Olympics on Friday. Huang and her mixed doubles partner Cheng Si Wei defeated the South Korean duo of Kim Won-ho and Jeon Na-eun with a score of 21-8, 21-11 in the final match held at the Port de La Chapelle arena.
Huang, who also won a silver medal in mixed doubles with Cheng in Tokyo, appeared shocked as the audience erupted in cheer, before shyly smiling and accepting Liu's ring, which showcased a large diamond that sparkled during a later press conference.
“I was very surprised by the proposal as I was preparing for the match,” Huang said with a smile. She added jokingly, “The ring fits my finger very well.”
Fans took to social media to express their admiration for the proposal, with one user on Weibo writing: “This year's medal tally can now include a diamond ring.” Another commented: “Liu Yuchen may not have won an Olympic gold medal, but he has surpassed one of the gold medal winners.”
This engagement is not the first time a Chinese Olympic athlete has received a marriage proposal after a competition. In Rio, diver Zi had just won a silver medal in the women's 3-meter springboard event when her boyfriend and fellow medalist Chen Kai proposed to her.
