Du Feng, head coach of the Chinese men's national basketball team. /CFP
The Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) on Sunday announced a 27-player list for the latest training camp of the men's national team. Head coach Du Feng answered multiple key questions in his interpretation of the list.
The list goes as follows:
Yi Jianlian, Zhou Peng, Ren Junfei, Hu Mingxuan, Xu Jie and Du Runwang of the Guangdong Southern Tigers
Han Dejun, Guo Ailun, Zhao Jiwei and Zhang Zhenlin of the Liaoning Flying Leopards
Wang Zhelin of the Fujian Sturgeons
Wu Qian, Lu Wenbo and Yu Jiahao of the Zhejiang Golden Bulls
Zhou Qi, Qi Lin and Yu Dehao of the Xinjiang Flying Tigers
Sun Minghui and Zhao Yanhao of the Zhejiang Lions
Shen Zijie and He Xining of the Shenzhen Aviators
Liu Chuanxing of the Qingdao Eagles
Wang Shaojie of the Beijing Royal Fighters
Zhu Mingzhen of the Guangzhou Loong Lions
Zeng Fanbo and Wang Quanze
Yi Jianlian of the Guangdong Southern Tigers attends practice in Zhuji, east China's Zhejiang Province, April 29, 2021. /CFP
Many fans will be happy to find Yi Jianlian's name on the list. He has rested for nine months trying to recover from an Achilles tendon rupture. According to Du, Yi already started participating in scrimmages. "It means a lot for his name to appear on the list of the training camp," said Du. "I hope he can set an example for young players on the national team, not just in training sessions, but also as an emotional leader."
The list is quite mixed in age. Coach Du admitted he is considering the transition from the old generation to the new one. "We recruited Zeng Fanbo, Yu Jiahao and other youngsters for the training camp this time, trying to raise them in the national team for the clubs. The better they grow, the more vigor and vitality they may add to Chinese basketball."
Zeng Fanbo of Beijing looks on in the game against Sichuan in the National Games of China men's basketball qualifying tournament in Dongguan, south China's Guangdong Province, April 30, 2021. /CFP
It has been over a year since the Chinese national team played in any major international event because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The last time they appeared in intense competition was the FIBA Basketball World Cup at home in 2019. Du wants to present a new, energetic and refreshed national team to both the association and fans.
China are attending the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Canada from June 29, and will face Canada and Greece to compete for the last Olympic spots. "We have a lot to work on but not much time to do it this time, maybe only three weeks. Our players were exhausted after the CBA season, but we must overcome hardship and achieve our goal," said Du.