Wang Chang (right) and Qian Tianyi hold the marriage certificates at Dongcheng District Civil Affairs Bureau in Beijing on February 7, 2026. Photo: Weibo of Wang Chang

Chinese badminton ace Wang Chang and table tennis star Qian Tianyi announced their marriage on social media on Saturday, sharing the happy news with fans and the public at 13:14 Beijing time, a timestamp symbolizing a lifelong commitment in Chinese culture. 

The pair posted their marriage registration photos from the Dongcheng District Civil Affairs Bureau in Beijing, alongside heartfelt messages that accompanied their respective social media posts. 

"I spent a long time choosing this proposal ring; it represents my whole heart for you! For the rest of my life, love and luck will flow to you," Wang wrote on Sina Weibo.

Qian shared a video of the surprise proposal Wang made in January. 

"My birthday wish was to marry you, and it came true as soon as I opened my eyes," Qian wrote on Weibo.

The announcement quickly drew widespread congratulations from sports fans and their teammates, with the topic dominating multiple trending topic lists on Weibo. 

Wang, born in 2001, is one of China's top men's doubles badminton players. He partners with Liang Weikeng to achieve multiple successes at the international level, including a silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics. 

He was also part of the Chinese squad that won the 2023 and 2025 Sudirman Cup, the world's premier mixed-team badminton championship, and helped lift the 2024 Thomas Cup title, the men's world team title. 

Qian Tianyi, born in 2000, is also a decorated women's table tennis player with a strong record in both individual and team events. 

Her most celebrated achievement came at the 2023 Chengdu FISU World University Games, where she won four gold medals in women's singles, women's team events, women's doubles and mixed doubles, cementing her status as a standout performer at the tournament. 

The cross-sport union between two decorated national team athletes has been widely celebrated in Chinese sports circles, with fans and media hailing the pair as a "golden couple" bridging China's badminton and table tennis teams.