Double Joy for Huang Ya Qiong: Olympic Gold and a Marriage Proposal

On Friday, Chinese badminton ace Huang Ya Qiong experienced a day of triumph and surprise at the Olympics.

Teaming up with Zheng Siwei, Huang crushed South Korea’s Kim Won-ho and Jeong Na-eun with a decisive 21-8, 21-11 victory in the mixed doubles final, concluding an unbeaten run in Paris. But the celebrations took an unexpected turn. With her gold medal around her neck, Huang received a surprise wedding proposal from Li Yuchen, a fellow member of China’s badminton squad.

“I didn’t see it coming at all because I was so focused on the competition,” Huang said through an interpreter. “Becoming an Olympic champion and getting proposed to on the same day is something I never imagined.”

Huang and Zheng, who were silver medalists at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, demonstrated exceptional skill and consistency. They went undefeated in group play, securing the top seed for the quarterfinals, and finished the tournament with a perfect 6-0 record, not losing a single game.

Reflecting on the moment, Zheng noted how this experience differed from his own engagement three years ago after a final loss. “This time, it’s even more special for her,” he said. “Last time was just about my proposal, but now it’s two incredible things happening at once.”

In the bronze medal match, Japan’s Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino defeated South Korea’s Seo Seung-jae and Chae Yu-jung with scores of 21-13, 22-20. While they matched their bronze medal finish from three years ago on home soil, the Japanese pair voiced their disappointment at not achieving a higher placement this time around.