Source: Sipa USA/SOPA Images
[Saba Sports News] Before Lin Dan’s rise, another legend graced China’s badminton scene in the late 1990s. Dong Jiong, dubbed the “King of Singles,” shone brightly, clinching the World Cup championship and an Olympic silver medal within a year. Upon retiring, Dong Jiong eschewed a life of ease for a new challenge, dedicating himself to para-badminton. However, in the pinnacle of his career, an unexpected storm brewed: allegations surfaced of him defrauding someone of $100,000. Dong Jiong now finds himself in court facing fraud charges. It appears he leveraged his badminton expertise and reputation to establish a club aimed at nurturing talent and achieving financial independence. Yet, his entrepreneurial journey was fraught with challenges, including losing his business license, fines, and financial struggles. In its early days, the club even faced payroll issues, necessitating Dong Jiong to borrow money. In 2007, Dong Jiong met Mr. Yang, promising to assist with his son’s residency matters in exchange for financial support to stabilize his struggling company. Trusting Dong Jiong’s assurances, Mr. Yang transferred $100,000, only to later allege fraud when promises went unfulfilled, leading to legal action against the former world champion.