Richmond’s double-gold medalist Wendy Zhang was named Team BC’s flag bearer for Saturday's closing ceremonies at the Canada Winter Games in Red Deer.

The 16-year-old badminton standout won the women’s singles and double events.

article continues below

"It is a huge honour to not only represent BC at the Canada Winter Games but to also be the flag bearer," said the Grade 11 Richmond High student who plays out of the Clear One Badminton Centre in her hometown. "It is very special to me and I am extremely thankful for this opportunity to show my BC pride at my very first multi-sport event.”

Zhang is a junior national team member and a Pan American Junior silver medalist. She was the 2019 national semi-finalist in women's singles and the senior provincial women's singles champion. She has a national ranking of third.

Zhang is preparing to compete at the Junior Elites in Calgary and has qualified for the Pan Americans in Mexico late April. Though she trains to compete in the individual sport she has thoroughly enjoyed competing in the team event.

"Being on a team makes me really proud," she added. "There are always people behind you cheering you on.”