Chinese Badminton Player Died Mid Court, Sports Minister: PBSI Urges BWF Amend Medical Aid Rules

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Minister of Youth and Sports Dito Ariotedjo spoke about the death of young Chinese badminton athlete Zhang Zhi Jie during the 2024 Asian Junior Badminton Championship in Yogyakarta, on Sunday, June 30. 

"It certainly has been noted, (we will) investigate, communicate, and coordinate, especially since this is an Asian level competition,” he said on Thursday, July 4, 2024. 

Zhang Zhi Jie collapsed mid-court when facing Japanese player Kazuma Kawano. In circulating video footage, the 17-year-old athlete collapsed before serving. He lay in the middle of the court and had a seizure. 

He was taken to Dr. Sardjito Hospital in Yogyakarta to receive further treatment but was declared deceased at 11:20 p.m. local time.

Dito said the medical team on duty should have been more responsive during the incident. Meanwhile, the Badminton World Federation or BWF regulation ruled that a medical team is only allowed on the court upon the referee’s permission. He said Indonesia’s badminton association PBSI had written to BWF to push for changes to the rules to prevent similar incidents. 

"We have communicated with BWF to amend the regulation (on medical and emergency response team),” he said.

Zhang Zhi Jie’s body is currently still kept in the Forensic Medicine Installation Unit at Dr. Sardjito Hospital. Zhang Zhi Jie's sibling reportedly arrived in Yogyakarta on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, and came without their parents.

Dr. Sardjito Hospital Legal and Public Relations Manager Banu Hermawan previously said that as a principal, the hospital would not perform any post-mortem examination on Zhang Zhi Jie's body before the family or PBSI instructed them. "The body is still in the freezer."

PRIBADI WICAKSONO

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