"Winning Gold and Receiving Diamonds"… Badminton Player's Proposal at the Court [Paris Olympics]

Huang Yachong (30) of China, who won the gold medal in mixed doubles badminton at the 2024 Paris Olympics, also received a "diamond ring."

On the 2nd (local time), Huang Yachong, together with Zheng Siwei, competed in the mixed doubles final at the Porte de la Chapelle arena in Paris, France, and defeated South Korea's Kim Wonho (Samsung Life) and Jung Naeun (Hwasun County Office) 2-0 (21-8, 21-11) to claim the gold medal.

[Image source= Xinhua News Agency]

Ranked No. 1 in the world in mixed doubles, Zheng Siwei and Huang Yachong had won the silver medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics after losing the final to fellow Chinese pair Zhao Yunlei and Huang Dongping, but this time they delivered a "golden smash."

At the awards ceremony, Huang Yachong smiled brightly as she hung the gold medal around her neck alongside Zheng Siwei, and then smiled even bigger. After stepping down from the podium, she spotted her boyfriend, also wearing the Chinese national team training uniform. He was Liu Yuchen (29), a Chinese men's doubles player.

Liu Yuchen, who handed flowers to Huang Yachong, knelt on one knee and took out a ring to propose. Huang Yachong could not hide her emotional expression and put the ring on the fourth finger of her left hand. On a small scoreboard inside the arena, a video call with Huang Yachong’s parents was broadcast, showing their delighted faces.

Although Liu Yuchen, who partnered with Ou Xuanyi in men's doubles at this tournament, did not win a medal, he is a former silver medalist in men's doubles at the Tokyo Olympics. This made Huang Yachong and Liu Yuchen an "Olympic medalist couple."

At the medalists' press conference, Huang Yachong said, "The proposal was truly surprising. I became an Olympic champion today and also received a proposal, which I really did not expect," adding with a big smile, "The ring fits my hand perfectly."