Chinese badminton players and coaches, along with all players competing in the 2024 Asia Junior Championship, praying together for the late Chinese player Zhang Zhijie, who collapsed during a match against Japan in the preliminary round and received medical assistance in Yogyakarta, Jul 1, 2024.
The score was 11-11 in the first game when Zhang fell to the floor. He received treatment at the venue and was taken to hospital by ambulance, but passed away after efforts to resuscitate him failed."China's Zhang Zhijie, a singles player, collapsed on the court during a match in the evening," Badminton Asia and the Badminton Association of Indonesia said in a joint statement on Monday."He was attended to by the tournament doctor and medical team.
India's P.V. Sindhu, who has won Olympic silver and bronze, called Zhang's death"absolutely heartbreaking".