The teenager was treated at the scene and rushed to hospital by ambulance, but died later that night after repeated efforts to resuscitate him failed.
“Medical findings… indicated that the victim suffered a sudden cardiac arrest,” Broto Happy, spokesman for the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI), told a news conference in Yogyakarta.
Zhang’s parents were heading to town to collect his body, he said.
The spokesman defended the actions of medical staff and local organisers after footage showed what appeared to be a hesitant response to the teenager falling face down on the pitch.
He said medical teams had to wait for the referee to let them onto the field.
“The world of badminton has lost a talented player,” Badminton Asia and the PBSI said in a statement.
Zhang started playing badminton in kindergarten and joined China’s national youth team last year.
Earlier this year, he won the singles title at the Dutch Junior International, a prestigious youth tournament.
The Chinese Badminton Association said it was “deeply saddened”.
“Zhang Zhijie loved badminton and was an outstanding athlete on the national youth badminton team,” the CBA said in a statement.
The team tournament observed a minute’s silence on Monday and the Chinese team wore black armbands as a sign of respect before the competition continued. China beat Taiwan 3-0.
India’s PV Sindhu, who won Olympic silver and bronze, called Zhang’s death “absolutely heartbreaking”.
“I offer my deepest condolences to Zhang’s family during this devastating time,” Sindhu, who was not present at the tournament, wrote on X. “The world lost a remarkable talent today.”
The Badminton World Federation’s governing body said it was “saddened by the loss of emerging badminton talent Zhang Zhijie”.
“We extend our deepest condolences to his family, his teammates, the Chinese Badminton Association and the entire Chinese badminton community,” he said in a statement.
