Nantong, China, November 1, 2026: Chinese badminton world champion Shi Yuqi married esports streamer Jiang Dan in a private wedding ceremony in his hometown of Nantong, Jiangsu Province, on Sunday, marking a new chapter in the former world No. 1’s life away from the badminton court.
The 30-year-old men’s singles star celebrated the occasion with family members, close friends and guests from the Chinese badminton community. The wedding was kept largely out of the public spotlight until photographs and videos shared by attendees began circulating on Chinese social media.
Among those attending were Shi’s longtime coach and former world champion Sun Jun, accompanied by his wife, and former Chinese national badminton player Lei Lanxi.
The wedding attracted widespread attention from badminton fans, who flooded social media with congratulatory messages for the newlyweds. Shi’s father also confirmed the marriage to Chinese media, explaining that the family had originally intended to keep the celebration private.
Shi Yuqi and Jiang Dan Celebrate Private Wedding in Nantong
Unlike the large public celebrations sometimes associated with prominent sports personalities, Shi Yuqi and Jiang Dan opted for a relatively private wedding surrounded by people close to them.
Photographs shared online showed the couple dressed in traditional wedding attire, with Shi wearing a formal suit and Jiang appearing in a white wedding gown.
Wedding signage displayed the couple’s names, while images from the celebration offered fans a glimpse of the occasion.
One memorable moment came during the wedding banquet when Shi and Jiang performed a duet of “Lian Ai ING” (恋爱ING), a popular song by Taiwanese rock band Mayday.
Videos of the performance circulated online, giving badminton fans a rare opportunity to see the Chinese star enjoying a personal celebration away from the demands of international competition.
Watch: Shi Yuqi and Jiang Dan’s Wedding Celebration
Who Is Jiang Dan, Shi Yuqi’s Wife?
Jiang Dan, also known online as Jiang Dandan, is a Chinese esports streamer who previously worked in television journalism.
She is known for broadcasting gaming content, particularly Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) and Delta Force.
According to Chinese media reports, Shi and Jiang developed their relationship through a shared interest in video games.
Shi has long been known among badminton fans for his enthusiasm for gaming, particularly Counter-Strike, making the connection between the badminton champion and the esports personality a natural point of interest.
Reports indicate that their relationship became publicly known in 2025, although the couple generally kept their personal lives private.
Chinese media have also reported that Shi proposed in July 2026, with the couple becoming engaged in October before holding their wedding on November 1.
Badminton Friends Attend Shi Yuqi’s Wedding
Several familiar faces from Chinese badminton were present to celebrate the occasion.
Among the guests was Sun Jun, the former world champion who has played an important role in Shi’s badminton development.
Former Chinese national team player Lei Lanxi also attended and shared photographs with the newlyweds on social media.
Lei congratulated the couple in a message that drew on a well-known Chinese romantic verse, expressing his happiness for the newly married pair.
His photographs helped bring the celebration to the attention of badminton fans, many of whom had not known the wedding was taking place.
Shi Yuqi’s Journey From Badminton Prodigy to World Champion
Born on February 28, 1996, in Nantong, Jiangsu Province, Shi Yuqi has established himself as one of China’s most accomplished men’s singles badminton players.
He first attracted international attention by winning the men’s singles gold medal at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing.
Four years later, Shi claimed the prestigious 2018 All England Open championship after defeating Chinese badminton legend Lin Dan in the final.
Despite experiencing injuries and difficult periods during his career, Shi returned to the highest level of international badminton and reached world No. 1 in the BWF men’s singles rankings.
One of his greatest achievements came at the 2025 BWF World Championships, where he captured the men’s singles gold medal.
That victory ended China’s 10-year wait for another men’s singles world championship title, further strengthening Shi’s position among the country’s leading badminton players.
Shi Yuqi Takes Time Away From International Competition
The wedding comes during a period when Shi has stepped back from regular international tournament competition.
Following injury concerns and adjustments to his competition schedule, Shi received protected-ranking status under BWF regulations.
His protected ranking took effect in October 2026, allowing him time away from the international circuit while preserving certain ranking-related rights for a future return.
Under the applicable protection period, Shi could potentially return to international competition in early 2027, although his actual comeback date has not been confirmed.
For now, the Chinese badminton star has another milestone to celebrate.
As photographs from the wedding spread across social media, fans congratulated Shi and Jiang and expressed their hopes that the former world champion would enjoy happiness in his personal life and continued success when he returns to competitive badminton.
