Jung Jae-sung

Jung Jae-sung was a South Korean professional badminton player who mainly competed in the men's doubles division. He was born on August 25, 1982, in Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea. He started playing badminton at the age of seven, at his local elementary school. He entered the South Korea national badminton team in 2001. Jung Jae-sung had a successful junior career, winning medals at the Asian Junior Championships and the World Junior Championships. He also won several national titles with different partners. He formed a formidable partnership with Lee Yong-dae in 2006, and together they became one of the most dominant pairs in the history of men's doubles badminton. They won numerous Super Series and Grand Prix titles, including the prestigious All England Open twice. They also won medals at the World Championships, the Asian Games, the Asian Championships, and the Sudirman Cup. Their biggest achievement was winning the bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics, after losing a close semifinal match to the eventual gold medalists, Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng of China. Jung Jae-sung retired from professional badminton after the 2012 Olympics, citing injuries and health issues. He became a coach for the Samsung Electromechanics badminton team, and later for the Incheon International Airport badminton team. He also worked as a commentator for badminton matches on television. He married Kim Sa-ra, a former badminton player, in 2013, and they had two children. He was known for his cheerful personality, his powerful smashes, and his strong friendship with Lee Yong-dae. Jung Jae-sung passed away on March 9, 2018, at the age of 35, due to cardiac arrest. He was found dead by his wife at their home in Suwon, South Korea. His sudden death shocked the badminton world, and many players and fans expressed their condolences and tributes. He was buried at the Seoul Memorial Park in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, South Korea.