China Champions Of BAJC 2024 Covered With Grief

China took the podium at the 2024 Badminton Asia Junior Championship (doc. PBSI).

JAKARTA The Chinese team successfully emerged as champions in the 2024 Badminton Asia Junior Championship (BAJC) tournament. However, their euphoria had to be shrouded in grief because Zhang Zhi Jie left last weekend.

The title was secured by the Bamboo Curtain country after defeating South Korea with a score of 3-1 in the final match at the Among Rogo Sports Hall, Yogyakarta, on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, at noon.

This title is the ninth title for China from the event. Previously, they came out as champions in the 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2018 editions.

China got points from Hu Ke Yuan/Lin Xiang Yi (men's doubles), Wang Zi Jun (men's singles), and Chen Fan Shu Tian/Liu Jia Yue (women's doubles).

The Hu/Lin pair opened China's advantage after defeating the South Korean pair, Lee Right-woo/Lee Jong-min, with the final score 21-14 and 21-19.

South Korea then equalized through Kim Min-sun in the second party. He beat China's singles, Xu Wen Jing, in a rubber game, 21-7, 19-21, and 21-14.

China kemudian meraih dua poin tambahan dari Wang Zi Jun dan Chen/Liu. Wang mengalahkan tunggal putra Korea Selatan, Lee Sun-jin 21-13 dan 21-8, sementara Chen/Liu mengatasi ganda putri Korea Selatan, Kim Min-ji/Yeon Seo dengan dua gim langsung, 21-16 dan 22-20.

China got on the podium this year while overshadowed by the sad news of the death of their flagship men's singles, Zhang Zhi Jie, on Sunday, June 30, 2024.

The athlete initially collapsed while competing against Japan's representative, Kazuma Kowano. He was then rushed to the hospital, but his life could not be saved.

As a final offering, China's men's singles coach, Zhang Qi, took the podium with the jersey of the late Zhi Jie. The moment touched all Chinese players and shed tears.

On that occasion, players from Malaysia, Indonesia, and South Korea, who took part in the podium, immediately offered their condolences.