What Lessons Can Be Learned From Tragic On-Court Death of Zhang Zhijie? (AI Translation)

【周刊提前读】张志杰悲剧教训何在？ 生命与胜负孰轻孰重？

On July 2, 2024, Team China reclaimed the mixed team championship at the Asian Junior Badminton Championships in Indonesia after a six-year hiatus [para. 1][para. 2]. The victory was bittersweet due to the absence of Zhang Zhijie, a 17-year-old national youth badminton player who died following a sudden collapse during a match on June 30, 2024 [para. 1][para. 2]. Video footage revealed Zhang collapsing and experiencing convulsions about ten minutes into a game against a Japanese player [para. 2]. Medics arrived after 40 seconds, but the delay and inadequacies in the response during the critical "golden four minutes" fueled public and professional skepticism [para. 2].

The Asian Junior Championships, organized by Badminton Asia, have been held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia for the past two years [para. 3]. After Zhang's death, various parties, including the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and Badminton Asia, expressed condolences [para. 3]. However, doubts persisted about the event's emergency medical response standards [para. 4]. The Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) called for a rule change to allow medical teams immediate access to the court without needing referee permission [para. 4].

Zhang Zhijie, born in 2007 in Jiaxing, Zhejiang, was celebrated for his aggressive playing style and had a promising career [para. 6][para. 7]. He began playing badminton in kindergarten, joined the Jiaxing Children’s Sports School, and later the Zhejiang provincial team [para. 6][para. 7]. In his brief career, he achieved an impressive 24 wins out of 28 major matches [para. 8]. Zhang recently clinched gold medals at various championships, including the 2024 Netherlands Junior International Badminton Grand Prix [para. 9].

On the day of his collapse, Zhang was participating in both team and men's singles competitions at the Asian Junior Championships [para. 10][para. 11]. Tragically, he collapsed during a match against Kazuma Kawano of Japan [para. 11].

Analysis by medical professionals suggested Zhang may have suffered sudden cardiac arrest, a condition requiring immediate resuscitation [para. 12][para. 15]. The "golden four minutes" are crucial for CPR and defibrillation, but no immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation was observed in the crucial minutes following his collapse [para. 14][para. 16][para. 17][para. 18].

Confirmation from the Indonesian Badminton Association stated Zhang had a cardiac arrest [para. 19]. The local hospital is yet to disclose the definitive cause of death, but the perceived delay in emergency response remains a point of criticism [para. 21][para. 23][para. 25]. Experts highlighted that immediate on-site CPR and defibrillation could have potentially saved Zhang [para. 22][para. 23].

The guidelines for badminton medical support emphasize the importance of having stringent emergency action plans, including the availability of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) [para. 24][para. 26][para. 27]. However, video footage did not show the presence of an AED which is considered critical for handling sudden cardiac arrest [para. 27][para. 28].

Currently, BWF is awaiting an official report to determine if the correct medical procedures were followed during the incident [para. 30]. The regulations mandate the referee approve medical personnel entering the court, causing delays in emergencies [para. 31][para. 34]. Broto Happy from PBSI reaffirmed that the medical response adhered to protocol, but criticisms suggest procedural improvements are essential [para. 37][para. 39][para. 43].

The tragic incident underscores the need for better medical readiness and flexible rule enforcement in sports events to prioritize athletes' safety over maintaining competition order [para. 46][para. 47]. Changes to regulations, including allowing immediate medical access without referee permission, are being considered to prevent similar tragedies [para. 49][para. 51]. The fitness of medical provisions, including the mandatory use of AEDs and ensuring all personnel are trained for emergency cardiac situations, is emphasized for future competitions [para. 52][para. 54][para. 58][para. 60].