Chinese basketball team gears up for World Cup qualifiers

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01:16

China's men's national basketball team got together in Beijing in order to prepare for the 2019 FIBA World Cup Qualifier. Li Nan's boys are scheduled to play their final two away games with Jordan and Syria next week.

Star Chinese Center Zhou Qi has been selected for the 15-man squad after Houston Rockets waived him last December.

With the Chinese team busy undergoing training in the capital to prepare for the 6th window of the Asian Qualifiers, Yi Jianlian and Guo Ailun failed to make the cut to the team as coach Li gave opportunities to a slew of new players like Bayi guard Guo Haowen and Fujian's Chen Lijian.

China's Zhou Qi during a training session of the national team in Beijing. /VCG Photo

China, the FIBA World Cup host nation, is placed third in Group E as they will take on Jordan next Friday and will subsequently play Syria in Lebanon on Sunday.

Zhou Qi was rumored to have signed with Liaoning Flying Leopards but, according to the grapevine, could not play in CBA this season after missing the deadline for registration.

However, Zhou said, “I think the NBA is always a goal for me, no matter what happens for coming up situations, but I have to work hard for my goal. If I go back to the CBA, then I will try my best to play games.”