CHINA'S top badminton doubles player Zheng Yumin collapsed during the final of the Asian Championships at Queen Elizabeth Stadium yesterday, bringing the tournament to an abrupt end, with Indonesia being awarded the title.
A live television audience and a 3,000-strong crowd at the Wan Chai arena watched in horror as Zheng fell to the floor, twitching, shortly after the start of the fourth rubber in the best-of-five final.
The 25-year-old from Fujian province was given mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and cardiac massage by medical personnel before being taken to neighbouring Tang Shiu Kin Hospital.
He was transferred to Queen Mary Hospital where late last night his condition was described as satisfactory.
The secretary-general of the Asian Badminton Confederation, Mr Punch Gunalan, said a duty doctor reported that Zhang had suffered a case of involuntary contraction of muscles.
''Zheng could hardly breathe after he collapsed and his pulse had stopped, but it was restored after he was given a DC (electric) shock,'' Mr Gunalan said.