Know more about Zhang Zhi Jie, a renowned Chinese badminton player, as the sports community currently mourning the tragic passing of a young player with reports claiming he suffered a heart attack
For the unversed, Zhang Zhi Jie, was tragically passed away during the Badminton Asia Junior Championship in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
A video of the incident has gone viral on social media especially on X/Twitter.
The viral video shows Zhang Zhi Jie suddenly collapsing on the ground between the game. As per reports, the first game was tied at 11-11 when this heartbreaking incident occurred.
Did badminton player Zhang Zhi Jie suffer a heart attack and what was his cause of death as his collapse and death video goes viral on Twitter/X
June 30: 17-year-old 🇨🇳 badminton player Zhang Zhijie (张志杰) died after collapsing on the court during a mixed team match — while playing his boys singles match against 🇯🇵 Kazuma Kawano — at the Asian Junior Championships in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. pic.twitter.com/X8jYN2Jmd3
— Byron Wan (@Byron_Wan) July 1, 2024
The video has caused a stir among badminton fans as they are sending tributes to Zhang Zhi Jie’s family. Meanwhile, there are many who wish to know more about him. So, here’s all you need to know:
About Zhang Zhi Jie
Born in January 2007 in Jiaxing, 17 year old Zhang Zhi began playing badminton in pre-school and quickly demonstrated his dedication and talent.
By the third grade, he had already joined the Zhejiang provincial team. His unique skills earned him a spot on China’s national youth team.
The 17-year-old shuttle player, Zhang, fell unconscious on the court while playing against Japan’s Kazuma Kawano.
Cause of Death
In a joint statement, PBSI (Badminton Asia and The Badminton Association of Indonesia) stated that Zhang was taken to an ambulance within 2 minutes and transported to the hospital after falling ill during his match.
Despite receiving intensive care, Zhang Zhi Jie could not be saved. He passed away at 11:20 PM on Sunday, June 30. At the time of writing, the cause of his sudden demise has not revealed.
As for the rumor about a heart attack, the authorities and the organizers of the 2024 Asian Junior Badminton Championship have not specifically mentioned it but it only a rumor for now.
What Did Zhang Zhi Jie’s Sister Say?
According to China’s Migu Video Sports Channel’s official Weibo account, Zhang’s sister voiced concern about the delay in on-site rescue, stating, “He was only 17 years old. After he fell to the ground, he had to wait a long time for the medical staff to arrive.”
During the Championships, a minute of silence was observed in his honor, and members of the Chinese team wore black armbands in tribute to their teammate.
Career
Zhang Zhi Jie was a rising star in badminton, ranked eighth globally in the junior category. His achievements were commendable, having reached the finals of two tournaments.
At the China U Series Badminton Championships 2022, he won the boy’s singles category.
Zhang joined the Chinese National Youth Team in 2023 and won the 2023 China National Youth Badminton Championship Group B men’s singles.
He also achieved victory at the 2024 Dutch Junior International, showcasing his talents on the international badminton stage.