China News Service, February 10th: In the just-concluded China Division of the Paris Olympic Women's Basketball Qualifying Tournament, the Puerto Rico team defeated the New Zealand team. According to FIBA analysis, the New Zealand team's group ranking is no longer better than the Chinese women's basketball team, so the Chinese women's basketball team has actually obtained tickets to the Paris Olympics in advance.
Image source: Chinese Basketball Association
A total of 16 teams participated in the Paris Olympic Women's Basketball Qualifying Tournament, divided into 4 divisions. The top 3 teams in each division qualified for the Olympic Games. The Chinese team, the New Zealand team, the French team, and the Puerto Rico team are in the Xi'an Division of China.
Before the start of the qualifying round, the host France team and the 2022 Women's Basketball World Cup champion United States team have secured seats for the Paris Olympics. For the Chinese women's basketball team, the team is facing a "3-for-2" situation with the New Zealand team and the Puerto Rico team.
In the first game on the evening of the 8th, the Chinese women's basketball team easily defeated the New Zealand team 94:47, getting off to a good start. However, in the second round match that ended earlier on the 10th, the Chinese women's basketball team lost to the French team 50:82.
Image source: Chinese Basketball Association
Regardless of the Puerto Rico team or the New Zealand team, there is a clear gap between the overall strength and the Chinese team. Therefore, for the Chinese women's basketball team, the most valuable training game this time is the contest with the French team. However, the Chinese women's basketball team finally lost to its opponent by 32 points, which was surprising.
The Chinese women's basketball team currently ranks second in the world, and the French women's basketball team ranks seventh. This was supposed to be an evenly matched strong dialogue, but it ended up being one-sided. Judging from the game process, the Chinese women's basketball team was at a disadvantage since the second half of the first quarter. The team was obviously out of shape and was ultimately unable to achieve a reversal.
Therefore, although the Chinese team qualified for the Olympics in advance, which can be regarded as a small goal of this competition, looking forward to the Paris Olympics, for the Chinese women's basketball team with higher goals, the team still has many areas for improvement.
Image source: FIBA official social media
After the match with the French team, the Chinese women's basketball coach Zheng Wei apologized: "I'm sorry for playing a very bad game." She said the team will adjust its status as soon as possible to prepare for tomorrow's game.
At 19:00 on February 11, the Chinese women’s basketball team will face the last opponent of this game, Puerto Rico. Changes in the team need to start from this game. (over)