Zhang Zhijie won the 2024 National Youth Badminton Championships representing the Shandong province team on March 28 in Nanchang, Jiangxi province. The 17-year-old died Sunday after collapsing during a match at the Badminton Asia Junior Championships in Indonesia. Photo: VCG

A Chinese team hold Zhang’s jersey while ascending the podium during the awards ceremony of the championships in Yogyakarta on Tuesday. Photo: Xinhua

Players and officials observe a moment of silence on Monday for Zhang’s death. Photo: VCG

Zhang suddenly collapsed when competing against Kazuma Kawano of Japan on Sunday in a group stage match. Photo: Screenshot

Nahar Taufiq, a doctor from Sardjito Hospital, speaks during a press conference following Zhang’s death in Yogyakarta on Monday. Photo: VCG

Badminton Asia expressed its deep sorrow and extended condolences to Zhang’s family, teammates and the entire badminton community in a statement Monday. Zhang was a badminton prodigy. He won the boys’ singles championship and boys’ team championship in the Group B category at last year’s National Youth Badminton Championships and earned a spot on the national youth team. Photo: Badminton Asia

Zhang (back, third from left) won the championship Badminton Asia U17 & U15 Junior Championships on Oct. 22 in Chengdu, Southwest China’s Sichuan province. Photo: VCG

Zhang hits a shuttlecock during a match at the Junior Championships on Oct. 19. Photo: VCG