On August 31st, the Vice Chairman of the Chinese Badminton Association, Xia Xuanze, was under investigation. The same day, the former Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the Chinese Badminton Association, Wang Wei, was officially announced to have been expelled from his position.
Official statements released on August 31st reported that Xia Xuanze was suspected of serious violations of discipline and law and is currently under investigation, as is Wang Wei for similar reasons.
Xia Xuanze was born on January 5, 1978, in Chengguan Town, Rui’an City, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. He is a former professional badminton player and coach who served as the head coach of the men’s singles team of the Chinese National Badminton Team.
In February 1996, Xia Xuanze was selected to represent the Chinese National Badminton Team. In August 2003, he won the men’s singles final at the World Badminton Championships, defeating Malaysian player Wong Choong Hann 2-1, claiming his first world championship title. Xia Xuanze’s performance declined thereafter, and he announced his retirement in February 2007, ending his career as a player.
At the end of January 2007, Xia Xuanze became the head coach of the Chinese National Badminton Team’s junior women’s team. In September of the same year, he was transferred to the first team of the Chinese National Badminton Team as the assistant coach for the women’s singles. In October 2008, Xia Xuanze became the head coach of the men’s singles team for the Chinese Badminton Team. In April 2017, he took on the role of head coach for the men’s singles team of the Chinese National Badminton Team. Xia Xuanze was elected as the Vice Chairman of the Chinese Badminton Association in 2018 and was reelected in 2019 and 2023.
Wang Wei, a former Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the Chinese Badminton Association, was the head coach of the men’s doubles team for the Chinese Badminton Team.
Four months ago, on April 29, 2026, Zhang Jun, the Chairman of the Chinese Badminton Association and the Vice Dean of Nanjing Sports Institute, was investigated for suspected serious violations of discipline and law.
Earlier reports from mainland China suggested that Zhang Jun had been out of contact for over ten days, indicating a possible investigation into his activities.
According to sources, Zhang Jun’s alleged violations were primarily related to his tenure at the Chinese Badminton Association and some aspects of his work in Jiangsu. After Zhang Jun’s “disappearance,” his close relatives reportedly inquired about his situation with the Jiangsu Sports Bureau.
On April 25, mainland media found that the “School Leadership” page on the official website of the Nanjing Sports Institute had become blank.
Public records show that Zhang Jun was born in November 1977 in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, a Master of Sports and a national-level coach.
Zhang Jun won the mixed doubles gold medal with Gao Ling at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and again at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
After retiring in 2007, Zhang Jun served as the assistant coach for the women’s doubles team of the Chinese Badminton Team and later became 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 and in January 2019, he was elected as the Chairman, followed by reelection in August 2023.
Additionally, Zhang Jun concurrently held the position of Vice Dean at Nanjing Sports Institute.