China News Service, Xi'an, February 12 (Reporter Zhang Yichen) On the 11th, the Chinese women's basketball team faced its last opponent in the Olympic qualifying tournament, the Puerto Rican women's basketball team, at home in Xi'an. In the end, the Chinese women's basketball team defeated their opponent 105-69.

The picture shows the Chinese women's basketball team winning the "ticket" to participate in the Paris Olympics. (Photo courtesy of the Media and Publicity Department of the Event Organizing Committee)

　　In the 2024 FIBA ​​Olympic Women's Basketball Qualifying Tournament China Division, a total of 3 Olympic tickets were issued. The opponents of the Chinese Women's Basketball Team in the same group were the French Women's Basketball Team, the New Zealand Women's Basketball Team and the Puerto Rico Women's Basketball Team. Since the French team is the host of the Paris Olympics and has advanced ahead of schedule, the Chinese women's basketball team competes with New Zealand and Puerto Rico for two Olympic tickets. Pre-match analysis generally believes that the Chinese women's basketball team, currently ranked second in the world, is not under too much pressure to advance, but the way in which it will qualify is of concern.

　　In the three games of the Olympic Women's Basketball Qualifying Tournament, the Chinese women's basketball team faced the New Zealand team in the first game. The Chinese women's basketball team relied on its tough defense and sharp offense to defeat the opponent 94:47; in the second game, it faced France, which had no worries about advancing. Team, the Chinese women's basketball team was passive throughout the game and lost with a score of 50:82. However, due to the subsequent victory of its group opponent Puerto Rico against New Zealand, the Chinese women's basketball team successfully qualified for the Paris Olympics.

　　After the loss, the Chinese women's basketball coach Zheng Wei said that although the team was prepared before the game, it was still not used to the French team's defensive intensity. "Last year, our opponents were basically Asian teams. For the world, The intensity of the strong team was obviously not adapted to it. Especially at the beginning, the French team completely disrupted the continuity of our cooperation. There were also some changes in the thinking of the players, and the offense and defense could not proceed normally."

　　"This defeat also sounded the alarm for our team in time. We will play more against strong European and American teams in the future and accumulate experience through high-quality games." Zheng Wei said.

　　Facing the Puerto Rico team that day, the Chinese women's basketball team had an absolute advantage on the court. They did not give their opponents any chance throughout the game, and finally won 105:69. Chinese women's basketball player Li Meng scored a team-high 23 points, and Li Yueru scored 22 points and 23 rebounds. After the game, FIBA ​​held an "invoice ceremony" in the competition venue to officially issue tickets to the Chinese team that had qualified for the Paris Olympics.

　　"The Chinese women's basketball team has finished second in the World Cup and is ranked second in the world, but it has been in the process of climbing." Li Meng, a member of the Chinese women's basketball team, said when talking about this series, "The loss deserves a good summary. , whether in terms of technology or mentality, I am very grateful to them (the French team) for teaching us a lesson."

　　It is worth mentioning that after successfully qualifying for the Paris Olympics, the Chinese women's basketball team has successfully advanced to the main stage of the Olympic Games for the sixth consecutive time.

　　I believe that for the Chinese women's basketball team, world rankings and external expectations are both pressure and motivation. As Zheng Wei said after today's game: "I don't think the Chinese women's basketball team is really a strong team in the world yet. We are also constantly learning and improving in the process of winning and losing, and hope to get better and better in the future." (End)