Zhang Zhijie

{{Infobox badminton player

| name = Zhang Zhijie
张志杰

| image = File:Zhang Zhijie.jpeg

| image_size =

| caption =

| country = China

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|2007|1|30}}{{Cite web |title=China's shuttler Zhang Zhi Jie dies after collapsing on court|url=https://www.astroawani.com/berita-dunia/chinas-shuttler-zhang-zhi-jie-dies-after-collapsing-court-477044 |access-date=1 July 2024 |website=Astro Awani |language=en}}

| birth_place = Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China{{Cite web |date=1 July 2024 |title=Ini profil Zhang Zhi Jie, pemain badminton China yang meninggal dunia |url=https://www.astroawani.com/berita-sukan/ini-profil-zhang-zhi-jie-pemain-badminton-china-yang-meninggal-dunia-477087 |access-date=1 July 2024 |website=Astro Awani |language=ms}}

| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2024|6|30|2007|1|30}}

| death_place = Yogyakarta, Indonesia

| event = Men's singles

| medal_templates =

{{MedalCountry | {{CHN}} }}

{{MedalGold | 2024 Yogyakarta | Mixed team{{efn|Was awarded posthumously.}}}}

|bwfbadminton_id = 38688

|bwf_id = 1F9E9293-9601-4840-8D5C-4C9C15D2E27B

}}

Zhang Zhijie ({{lang-zh|s=张志杰|t=張志傑|p=Zhāng Zhìjié}}; 30 January 2007 – 30 June 2024) was a Chinese badminton player.{{cite web |url=https://bwfworldtour.bwfbadminton.com/player/38688/zhi-jie-zhang |title=Zhang Zhi Jie {{!}} Profile |website=Badminton World Federation |access-date=2024-10-05}} He played for China in the 2024 Badminton Asia Junior Championships before his death.

Career

Zhang won the 2024 Dutch Junior International beating fellow Chinese player Hu Zhean 21–10, 11–21, 13–21.{{Cite web |title=Profil Zhang Zhi Jie, Pebulutangkis China yang Meninggal Dunia saat Main di Badminton Asia Junior Championships 2024 di Indonesia|url=https://sports.okezone.com/read/2024/07/01/40/3028187/profil-zhang-zhi-jie-pebulutangkis-china-yang-meninggal-dunia-saat-main-di-badminton-asia-junior-championships-2024-di-indonesia |access-date=1 July 2024 |website=sports.okezone.com |date=July 2024 |language=id}}

Zhang went on to reach the final at the 2024 German Junior before losing to Wang Zijun 13–21, 21–16, 16–21.

At the 2024 Badminton Asia Junior Championships' award ceremony, Zhang's jersey was lifted onto the podium. He was awarded the gold posthumously.{{Cite web |title=中国队夺冠，全队带张志杰球衣上领奖台！印尼羽协称张志杰因心脏骤停离世，抢救细节公布|url=https://finance.sina.cn/2024-07-02/detail-incatzxc7519918.d.html |access-date=2 July 2024 |website=finance.sina.cn |date=2 July 2024 |language=zh}}

Death

Zhang was playing against Kazuma Kawano in a match during the 2024 Badminton Asia Junior Championships. He collapsed onto the court when the score was 11-11 and died of cardiac arrest.{{Cite web |title=China badminton player, 17, dies of cardiac arrest after collapsing on court|url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/sport/chinese-badminton-player-17-zhang-zhijie-dies-collapse-court-indonesia-4447936 |access-date=1 July 2024 |website=CNA |language=en}}

Indian badminton player P. V. Sindhu and Malaysian badminton player Lee Chong Wei offered condolences to Zhang's family. Badminton World Federation, Badminton Asia, Chinese Badminton Association and Badminton Association of Indonesia said that they were deeply saddened by the loss of Zhang.{{Cite web |title=China badminton player, 17, dies of cardiac arrest after collapsing on court|url=https://www.nst.com.my/sports/badminton/2024/07/1070929/china-badminton-player-17-dies-cardiac-arrest-after-collapsing |access-date=1 July 2024 |website=New Strait Times |date=July 2024 |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=向张志杰家属致哀李宗伟：世界羽联需改进医疗|url=https://www.orientaldaily.com.my/news/sports/2024/07/02/662672 |access-date=2 July 2024 |website=Oriental Daily |date=2 July 2024 |language=zh}}{{Cite web |title=Badminton's rising star Zhang Zhijie dies during match at Asian Juniors|url=https://www.nst.com.my/sports/badminton/2024/07/1070574/badmintons-rising-star-zhang-zhijie-dies-during-match-asian-juniors |access-date=1 July 2024 |website=New Strait Times |date=July 2024 |language=en}}

Following the announcement of Zhang's death, there was an outpouring of international outcry over the events leading up to his death, after a video of his death showed a medic running towards Zhang, then stopping at the edge of court to wait for the referee to give permission. In addition, there has been widespread condemnation in China over the actions of the medical staff at the venue. The Indonesian medical personnel did not administer an AED or CPR to Zhang, they had instead taken 2 minutes to fit him onto a stretcher.{{cite web |last1=Vera |first1=Kelby |title=Death Of Teenage Badminton Star Prompts Outrage Over Delayed Medical Response |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/zhang-zhijie-teenage-badminton-player-dead-medical-delay-outrage_n_6684718de4b0e3bf97719bc7 |access-date=15 May 2025}}{{Cite web |last=Wong |first=Tessa |date=2 July 2024 |title=Zhang Zhijie: Chinese teen badminton player's death sparks outcry |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd19xnxdvlko |access-date=2 July 2024 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}

In response, the Badminton Association of Indonesia announced that they would ask the Badminton World Federation to re-consider the rule requiring medics to wait for permission before attending to players.{{Cite web |title=Chinese badminton player, 17, dies after collapsing during match|url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/chinese-badminton-player-17-dies-after-collapsing-during-match |access-date=9 July 2024 |website=Fox News |date=2 July 2024 |language=en}} As of 18 July 2024, Zhang’s body is still being held at the Dr. Sardjito General Hospital in Yogyakarta, even after his family’s arrival from China. The situation has left many questioning the delay in repatriating the deceased player’s remains.{{Cite web |last=Daily |first=The ASEAN |date=2024-07-18 |title=Chinese badminton prodigy's body still held in Indonesian hospital weeks after tragic death |url=https://theaseandaily.com/chinese-badminton-prodigys-body-still-held-in-indonesian-hospital-weeks-after-tragic-death/ |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=THE ASEAN DAILY |language=en-US}}