The death of a 17-year-old Chinese Teenage Athlete badminton player, Zhang Zhijie, who collapsed during a youth match, has sparked widespread outrage on Chinese social media. Teenage Athlete Zhang collapsed suddenly during the Badminton Asia Junior Championships in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, and despite efforts, he was pronounced dead at a hospital.
Video footage circulated online showed a delay of about 40 seconds before medical personnel intervened, prompting criticism about the response time.
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Officials faced intense scrutiny and questions regarding whether quicker medical intervention could have saved Zhang’s life. Indonesia’s badminton association, PBSI, later confirmed he suffered a sudden cardiac arrest.
According to PBSI, medical teams had to wait for the referee’s permission before entering the court, a standard procedure in international badminton tournaments that has drawn criticism for potentially delaying critical assistance.
Badminton Asia stated that Zhang was attended to by medical staff and taken to an ambulance within two minutes of collapsing. PBSI intends to propose a review of this rule to enable faster action in similar emergencies to potentially save athletes’ lives.
Chinese social media users on Weibo expressed anger over the incident, questioning the prioritization of rules over human life and calling for reforms in international sporting regulations.
Xinhua, a Chinese state media outlet, highlighted concerns about emergency response procedures at sports events, emphasizing the need to prioritize life above all else. Zhang, seen as a promising talent in badminton, was mourned by the badminton community, with tributes pouring in following his tragic death during the tournament.
