The young athlete unexpectedly collapsed during a match at the Asia Junior Championships, which were being held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, on Sunday.
According to statements released by the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) and Badminton Asia, Zhang was immediately transported to a nearby hospital following his collapse. Despite the efforts of medical professionals, he sadly succumbed to a cardiac arrest later that evening.
However, concerns have been raised regarding the timeliness and effectiveness of the medical response at the tournament venue.
Video evidence suggests that it took approximately 40 seconds from the moment Zhang collapsed on the court for any form of assistance to reach him, prompting questions about the adequacy of the emergency protocols in place, reported news agency AFP.
“We are taking all necessary steps to thoroughly review this matter in consultation with Badminton Asia and Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI),” the Badminton World Federation (BWF) governing body said in a statement.
The BWF guidelines were followed by the hosts during the incident, according to a representative from the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) on Monday. The spokesperson attributed the delayed emergency response to the referee’s actions.
“Following the completion of our review, we will determine whether specific aspects of these guidelines need to be changed,” the BWF added.
The BWF is anticipating the arrival of an official report from both Badminton Asia and the local organising committee. The purpose of this report is “to assess whether the correct medical procedures were followed in providing aid to Zhang when he fell to the court”. The BWF aims to determine if the appropriate steps were taken to assist Zhang during the medical emergency.
In light of the tragic incident, badminton legend Lee Chong Wei has called for adjustments to be made to the tournament schedules, allowing players sufficient time to rest and recover between matches.
Lee, who has won three Olympic silver medals, shared his thoughts with The Star newspaper in Malaysia, emphasizing that Zhang’s untimely passing should serve as a wake-up call for the sport.
Lee stressed the importance of medical teams being “more alert” and urged the BWF to “review their match and tournament schedule”.
He believes that these changes are necessary to ensure the well-being and safety of the players, and to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
“He appeared tired and it’s sad to accept the reality that China’s future top player is gone,” Lee said.
