Huang Yaqiong, the Chinese gold medalist in mixed doubles, had just left the podium at the Paris Olympics when Liu Yuchen - the silver medalist from Tokyo for men's duals - got down to one knee.

Huang, with her partner Zheng Siwei, defeated South Korea's Kim Won Ho and Jeong Na Eun by a score of 21-8 and 21-11 in the final badminton Mixed Doubles at Porte de La Chapelle Arena.

Huang, who won mixed doubles gold in Tokyo along with Zheng looked stunned as the spectators went crazy, then smiled shyly before accepting Liu’s ring. The ring contained a large diamond that sparkled at close range later on during a media conference.

Huang, glowing with pride said: "The proposal surprised me because I had been practicing for the match."

She added with a smile, "The ring really fits my finger."

Social media was flooded with praise from fans. One wrote on Weibo, "This year’s medal count now includes a diamond-ring."

Another wrote: "Liu Yuchen did not win an Olympic Gold Medal but he won over a gold medalist."

Liu and Huang are not the first Chinese Olympians to be proposed at, while still fresh after a fight.

He Zi, a diver who had won a medal in Rio for women's 3-metre springboard competition, was asked to marry her boyfriend Qin Kai.

The Olympic sailing event in Marseille took place earlier this Friday. After winning the bronze medal, Sarah Steyaert of France and Charline Pichon from Canada were waiting for their partners to propose. Richa Naidu, Clara Fallon and Richa Naidu contributed to this report.

(source: Reuters)