China’s sports industry continues to face ongoing scrutiny and investigations. Reports indicate that Zhang Jun, chairman of the Chinese Badminton Association and two-time Olympic badminton mixed doubles champion, is under investigation.
According to a report by the Chinese media outlet “Economic Observer” on April 24th, from April 20th to 24th, several informed sources stated that Zhang Jun, chairman of the Chinese Badminton Association and vice president of the Nanjing Sports Institute, has been under investigation by the disciplinary department and has been out of contact with the outside world for over ten days.
Sources mentioned that the issues involving Zhang Jun are mainly related to his time working at the Chinese Badminton Association, with some also touching on his work in Jiangsu. After losing contact with Zhang Jun, his close relatives even inquired about his situation with the Jiangsu Sports Bureau.
It was reported that despite multiple attempts to reach Zhang Jun via phone over several days, his phone remained turned off.
Officials from the Chinese Badminton Association office responded to the media by stating that they are unaware of Zhang Jun’s situation and whether he usually works at the Badminton Association office. Staff from the party and government office of the Nanjing Sports Institute also stated that they are not aware of Zhang Jun’s situation.
Zhang Jun was once one of China’s most renowned badminton players. Public records show that he was born in Suzhou, Jiangsu in November 1977. In 1996, at the age of 19, Zhang Jun was selected to the national badminton team. He won the Olympic badminton mixed doubles championship in both 2000 and 2004. After retiring in August 2007, Zhang Jun served as an assistant coach for the Chinese badminton women’s doubles team before becoming the head coach for the men’s doubles and mixed doubles teams.
In 2018, Zhang Jun became the vice chairman of the Chinese Badminton Association. Starting from January 2019, he held the position of chairman of the Chinese Badminton Association. In August 2023, Zhang Jun was re-elected as the chairman.
Additionally, Zhang Jun has held various positions such as deputy director of the training department, deputy head of the Badminton Department, and coach of the badminton team at the Nanjing Sports Institute. In 2023, he became the vice president of the Nanjing Sports Institute, assisting with training and competition-related tasks.
The functions of the Chinese Badminton Association include organizing various national badminton competitions, selecting and organizing athletes and referees to represent China in international competitions including the Olympics and Asian Games.
Sports industry insiders mention that badminton in China holds significant commercial value. Zhang Jun’s long tenure as chairman of the Chinese Badminton Association underscores his pivotal role in the field.
Regarding Zhang Jun’s disappearance, a headline article posted by Li Weiao on social media states, “Badminton enthusiasts, did you know Zhang Jun has been at the helm of the Chinese Badminton Association for 6 years… In the world of sports anti-corruption, can Zhang Jun be considered a ‘tiger’ level figure?”
Online comments include, “If there have been no Olympic champions brought down before, will he be the first?” “There’s no need to speculate in this situation, let’s wait for official statements, it should come soon…” “In the past, I was most familiar with table tennis and badminton. There have been rumors in the badminton world, especially in the doubles category, and it was mentioned a few days ago that someone might be taken away for investigation. Now this person is detained in Nantong, likely related to financial issues.”
Since the investigation of Li Tie, former head coach of the Chinese national men’s soccer team, in November 2022, corruption issues within China’s sports industry have been gradually brought to light. Notable figures who have fallen include former director of the Chinese General Administration of Sport Gou Zhongwen, former vice director of the General Administration of Sport and former party secretary of the Chinese Football Association Du Zhaocai, and former chairman of the Chinese Football Association Chen Xuyuan. Both the General Administration of Sport and its affiliated sports associations and centers, covering various fields such as football, track and field, winter sports, and aquatic sports, have been implicated.