Beijing: During the quarterfinals of the 2024 China National Badminton Team Championships on October 31, Chinese badminton star and World No. 1 Shi Yuqi, representing Jiangsu, withdrew due to sudden illness. This pivotal match between Jiangsu and Shanghai was tied at 2-2, making it a decisive showdown in the third singles match, with Shi Yuqi facing Liu Haichao from Shanghai.
In the first game, Liu Haichao narrowly defeated Shi with a score of 21-19.
During the second game, while trailing 1-9, Shi Yuqi began experiencing severe discomfort and requested a medical timeout. After assessment by the tournament’s medical staff, he was immediately taken to the hospital for emergency treatment.
Broadcast footage showed the alarming moment when Shi was carried off on a stretcher after receiving on-court medical attention.
On Nov 1, Shi took to social media to reassure fans and provide a detailed explanation of the incident.
In his post, Shi Yuqi wrote, “Thank you, everyone, for your concern! My withdrawal has received a lot of attention, and I’m incredibly grateful for your support. I fell ill due to a high fever caused by gastroenteritis. I’d felt unwell the day before the match but hoped I could push through to finish the game. Jiangsu is the team that has nurtured me, and I wanted to contribute, so I didn’t inform the team, worried they wouldn’t let me play. I felt bad for making my team and fans worry about this. Thank you again for your love and support.”
Media reports confirm that after being rushed to the hospital, Shi underwent various medical tests and received IV treatment, returning to his home around 4 a.m. the next day to rest.
