China
2023.09.03 21:22 GMT+8

CGTN Sports Talk: Answers needed for China's underperformance at FIBA World Cup

Updated 2023.09.03 21:22 GMT+8
CGTN

China's 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup trip ended with one win and four losses on Saturday night as well as the failures to secure automatic qualification for the Paris Olympic Games in 2024 and to appear in the Olympic qualifying tournament next year.

The 105-63 loss to Serbia showed how desperate the gap is between China and the world's top team. The 89-69 loss to South Sudan exposed the stamina problem of the team. The 107-89 loss to Puerto Rico reflected China's inexperience in making game plans. While the 83-76 win displayed the spirit certain Chinese players still had, the 96-75 loss to the Philippines put a bitter period on the team's trip in the tournament.

It doesn't take deep digging to name the shortcomings in China's performances in the World Cup, including poor rebounding, lack of stamina, insufficient knowledge of coach of players … the list goes on.

The question is, does the team see the more significant problems behind the symptoms? The first step to solve any problem is to acknowledge that there is a problem.

Players of China look frustrated after the 96-75 loss to the Philippines in the FIBA Basketball World Cup Classification Round game at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, the Philippines, September 2, 2023. /CFP

Hu Jinqiu (#21) of CHina drives toward the rim in the FIBA Basketball World Cup Classification Round game against Angola at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, the Philippines, August 31, 2023. /CFP

Isaiah Pineiro (#0) of Puerto Rico shoots in the FIBA Basketball World Cup group game against China at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, the Philippines, August 30, 2023. /CFP

Majok Deng (#13) of South Sudan drives toward the rim in the FIBA Basketball World Cup group game against China at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, the Philippines, August 28, 2023. /CFP

Bogdan Bogdanovic (#7) of Serbia dribbles in the FIBA Basketball World Cup group game against China at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, the Philippines, August 26, 2023. /CFP

Host: Li Xiang

Cover designer: Feng Yuan

Copyright © 

RELATED STORIES