Choong to wed Zhang

Malaysia's Choong Tan Fook and China's Zhang Jiewen may be wearing different flags on their shirts, but they should be soon flying under the same name. The Malaysian veteran proposed to Zhang and vowed to marry the top Chinese shuttler after the Olympic Games.

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It was no secret for their close friends and the badminton fraternity, but the fact that Choong Tan Fook finally made this relationship official makes it special, on day one of his home event, the Malaysia Open. The Malaysian proposed to Zhang Jiewen, the top women's doubles shuttler from China, just before the tournament kicked off in Kuala Lumpur. The duo had been dating for a while, since the Malaysia Open in 2004 – exactly 3 years ago, but kept the secret until now. Of course, two players from two different national teams wasn’t an easy situation to deal with and Zhang went against the advice of her coach Li Yongbo, who was quite concerned about this “external” relationship. Yet Zhang held on to her feelings towards Choong and the duo should be getting married sometime after the Olympics.

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“We don’t know yet whether it will be this year or next year, but he still hasn’t given me the ring yet,” laughed Zhang. Choong had given a first symbolic proof of his love, however, last year, when he gave Zhang a diamond ring during the Singapore Open last May.

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This love story isn’t the only one on the circuit as many hands are held when the lights are off and behind the badminton curtains – Lin Dan and Xie Xingfang, Eric Pang and Yao Jie, Chen Hong and Kou Pei Ting, and others who are still remaining secret …