Gold and Diamonds for Huang Ya Qiong: China Olympian Says Yes to Wedding Proposal on Live TV

Paris Olympics: China's badminton star Huang Yaqiong won both a Gold medal and a wedding ring at the Paris Olympics. The 30-year-old shuttler was proposed to by her boyfriend and fellow Chinese shuttler Liu Yuchen following the medal ceremony.

The La Chapelle Arena, which hosts badminton matches at the Games, was packed to the rafters when Liu got down on his knees and proposed marriage to Huang.

Huang and partner Zheng Siwei beat South Korea’s Kim Won-ho and Jeong Na-eun 21-8, 21-11 in mixed doubles to cap an unbeaten run in Paris. Wearing the gold medal hung around her neck, she said yes to a wedding proposal by Li Yuchen, another member of China’s badminton team.

“For me, the proposal is very surprising because I have been preparing for the game,” Huang said. “Today I am an Olympic champion and I got proposed (to), so that’s something I didn’t expect.”

Huang and Zheng, silver medalists at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, went 3-0 in group play to earn the top seed in the quarterfinals. They finished the tournament 6-0 without losing a game in the process.

Zheng said he got engaged three years ago after losing in the final and considers this a better experience for her partner.

“I think it must be happier for her,” he said. “Last time it was purely for my proposal, but this time it is basically double lucky things happening at the same time.”

Zheng, 27, confirmed that the Paris Olympics would be his last appearance at the Games. Zheng had travelled with his family to the Olympics and he made it sweet for them with the Gold.