Current location:sport >>
From Low to High, Chinese Women's Basketball Team Fights back to Center Stage
sport8People have gathered around
IntroductionContact Us HomeNewsHighlightACWF NewsSocietyWom ...
- Home
- News
- People
- In-depth
- ACWF
From Low to High, Chinese Women's Basketball Team Fights back to Center Stage
October 2, 2022Team China pose for photo before the awarding ceremony of the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 in Sydney, Australia, Oct. 1, 2022. [Photo by Hu Jingchen/Xinhua] |
Facing a more balanced Team USA in the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup final, the Chinese players failed to conjure a miracle, but their progress is definitely worth being proud of.
SYDNEY, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) — When the Chinese women's basketball players put the silver medals around their necks at the FIBA Women's World Cup medal-awarding ceremony, they might remember a photo on the wall of their training hall in Beijing.
It was a photo of the Japanese women's team celebrating its victory.
The photo was taken in 2015, when the Japanese team won the FIBA Asia Women's Championship, beating the Chinese hosts with an advantage of 35 points in what might be one of the worst defeats for the Chinese team.
At that time, the Chinese women's basketball team was at its lowest point, finishing only the 10th at the Rio Olympics.
"There seemed to be a hurdle for our players to make it into the quarterfinals of world events," said Zheng Wei, head coach of the team.
The hurdle is gone in Sydney.
On Friday evening, China beat Australia 61-59 to enter the final of the FIBA Women's World Cup, formerly the World Championship for Women, for the second time in history, 28 years after it took silver at the 1994 worlds.
Wu Tongtong (bottom) of China gets injured during the final against the United States at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 in Sydney, Australia, Oct. 1, 2022. [Photo by Hu Jingchen/Xinhua] |
Facing a more balanced Team USA, the reigning champions, the Chinese players failed to conjure a miracle in the final, but their progress is definitely worth being proud of.
"We have to try our very best in every match and show the spirit of our Chinese women basketball players," said the squad's leading scorer Li Meng.
"Resolution is the key," said captain Yang Liwei. "It helps you fight until the end."
This is what Xu Limin, former head coach of the team, would like to see when he pinned up the photo of the Japanese team in the training hall as a spur for the players.
It worked.
In 2018, the Chinese women's basketball players won the gold medal at the Jakarta Asian Games, and defeated their Japanese opponents 87-81 at the World Cup knock-out stage less than a month later.
A stable lineup is another key to victory. The major players, including guards Yang Liwei, Li Yuan, Wang Siyu, Li Meng, forward Huang Sijing, and centers Li Yueru and Han Xu, have been playing together since 2018.
"We have been teammates for years, we rejoiced in victories and felt saddened over defeats together. We have enough experience to work with each other," Li Meng told Xinhua.
They played ultimate team basketball on Monday night when they destroyed Puerto Rico 95-60, creating an all-time Women's World Cup record of 41 assists.
Han Xu (R) of China shoots the ball during the final against the United States at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 in Sydney, Australia, Oct. 1, 2022. [Photo by Hu Jingchen/Xinhua] |
In order to tune up better for the World Cup, they also tried to know more about their opponents by travelling to Europe in August. According to Li Meng, they played eight warm-up matches against rivals with different styles.
"When you have more experience, when you are familiar with your opponents, your skills would surely improve," said Shao Ting, former Chinese captain.
This is also what coach Zheng Wei wanted. "This match exposed our problems, from which we could learn more," she said after the final on Saturday. "We are not good enough in confrontation under high pressure, especially in attacking."
Cheryl Reeve, coach of Team USA, who claimed their fourth FIBA World Cup title in a row, said she saw the growth of their Chinese rivals.
"This is a great time for the Chinese women's national team. It's a very, very good team," she told the press conference.
The runners-up placing boosted the confidence of the Chinese players, who are looking forward to going further.
According to statistics on the FIBA website, the average age of the Chinese roster is 26, younger than their major opponents Team USA and the Opals.
"Our coach told us that after accomplishing one goal, you need another. Now we have set up our next goal," said Wu Tongtong.
And the next big stage will be the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
"See you in Paris," Wu said.
(Source: Xinhua)
32.3KPlease understand that womenofchina.cn,a non-profit, information-communication website, cannot reach every writer before using articles and images. For copyright issues, please contact us by emailing: [email protected]. The articles published and opinions expressed on this website represent the opinions of writers and are not necessarily shared by womenofchina.cn.
Comments
Magazines
Projects
- 2023 Women Science and Technology Innovation Pioneer...
Photos
- People Enjoy Blooming Tulips in Jinan, East...
- Flowers Bloom Across China in Spring
Special Coverage
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“Culture Connect news portal”。http://honduras.triple-v.org/content-36c399907.html
Related articles
Closing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities
sportBenchmark U.S. crude oil for June delivery fell 26 cents to $79.80 per barrel Monday. Brent crude fo ...
【sport】
Read moreEU unveils 'remedy' for migrants
sportMigrants embark on a ferry in Lampedusa Island, Italy, on Sunday. About 11,000 irregular migrants ar ...
【sport】
Read moreSeveral Iranian airports cancel flights until Monday
sportTEHRAN, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Several Iranian airports have canceled their flights until Monday after ...
【sport】
Read more
Popular articles
- Congo names third American in a foiled coup plot as mourners gather in Utah to remember plot leader
- Waiting for the collapse of the 'China collapse' prediction
- Palestinian death toll in Gaza rises to 33,729: ministry
- Pakistan's PM says Belt and Road comes with benefits
- Mariachis. A flame
- Number of foreign visitors to China sees significant rebound
Latest articles
Election 2024: Nikki Haley faces a key decision on whether or not to endorse Trump
Forest fire claims three lives in Guizhou
Brazilian president inaugurates 1st shipment of meat exports to China
Xi Orders All
Midwest storms: Large hail, torrential rain and tornadoes and more is coming
Mexico formally denounces Ecuador to ICJ for embassy raid
LINKS
- Cost of privately renting homes rises by more than 9% in a year
- Under mounting pressure, Biden opts to press for ceasefire in Gaza
- They cost up to £30. But which posh lip glosses are worth the dosh?
- Genius iPhone hack will save you so much time when traveling
- China sees robust recovery, vigorous growth in cultural, tourism industries: minister
- Annie Kilner is seen for the first time since welcoming her fourth son with husband Kyle Walker
- Italy starting Davis Cup title defense against Brazil and US plays Chile
- Hollyoaks star Theo Graham is the latest actor to leave the soap amid massive cast cull
- The Milan derby. The Serie A title. A 2nd star. Inter can win it all in a single night
- Arsenal crash OUT of the Champions League after losing to Harry Kane's Bayern Munich in the quarter