China News Service, Beijing, February 10th (Reporter Liu Xingchen) On the 10th, in a focus match in the China Division of the Paris Olympic Women's Basketball Qualifying Tournament, the Chinese women's basketball team failed to continue the good feel of the first game and lost 50:82 to a strong team. The French team has missed two consecutive victories in the competition.
As the host of the Paris Olympics, the French team, which has qualified for the Olympics, has no performance pressure this time, but the head coach still assembled the strongest lineup to participate. "The best way to prepare for the Paris Olympics is to win every game."
Image source: Screenshot of FIBA website
Focusing on this game, the two sides were entangled in the opening stage. The French team fought very actively, which challenged the Chinese team on the defensive end. After Li Yueru came on the stage, the Chinese women's basketball team focused on attacking inside. After that, the French team's core shooter Marlene Johannes hit consecutive three-pointers, helping the French team lead 17:10 in the first quarter.
In the second quarter of the game, the French team continued to work hard from the outside, and the Chinese women's basketball team was once 14 points behind. The team was unable to find its form on the offensive end and fell behind 24:44 at halftime.
Changing sides to fight again, the Chinese women's basketball team was eager to seek a counterattack, but too many mistakes hindered the team's progress, and the point difference once reached 35 points.
After that, the Chinese women's basketball team failed to narrow the point difference, and finally swallowed the bitter fruit of defeat and missed a good start in the Year of the Dragon.
Image source: FIBA Weibo
In the world rankings, the Chinese women's basketball team ranks 2nd, and the French women's basketball team is equally strong, ranking 7th. This should have been a close contest, but 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 ultimately failed to achieve a reversal.
In order to prepare for this competition, the Chinese team completed its concentration on January 7 and trained in Qingyuan, Guangdong for nearly a month. All players switched from league mode to national team mode and entered a state of preparation non-stop.
Coupled with the intensive schedule of three games in four days, the bodies of Chinese female basketball players are in a period of fatigue, and the level of tacit understanding on the court has also declined compared with the past. This may also be part of the reason for the team's huge defeat in this game.
Image source: Screenshot of FIBA website
Although there is no chance of victory in this game, the Chinese women's basketball team still takes the initiative in the competition for Olympic tickets.
A total of 16 teams participated in the Paris Olympic Women's Basketball Qualifying Tournament, which was divided into 4 divisions. The top 3 teams in each division qualified for the Olympics. 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 defeated the New Zealand team 94:47, getting off to a good start.
As New Zealand and Puerto Rico both suffered defeats in the first round, the Chinese team currently holds a one-game advantage. Tonight, the New Zealand women's basketball team and the Puerto Rico women's basketball team will have a direct dialogue. The winning side will tie the number of wins of the Chinese women's basketball team.
At 19:00 on February 11, the Chinese women’s basketball team will face the last opponent of this game, Puerto Rico.
Image source: Chinese Basketball Team
In the world rankings, the Puerto Rico team ranks 12th. In the 2022 World Cup group stage, the Chinese women's basketball team defeated its opponent 95:60. This time, the Puerto Rican women’s basketball team is led by scorer Guilantes. According to the analysis of past results, the strength of the Chinese women's basketball team is clearly dominant.
Various situations may result in the Chinese women's basketball team advancing, or even qualifying early. But regardless of the situation in other games, as long as the Chinese women's basketball team defeats Puerto Rico tomorrow, it will lock in a ticket to the Olympics. I hope that the result of today's game will not affect the state of the Chinese women's basketball team tomorrow. (over)