This morning, the two important players of the Chinese women's basketball team, Pan Zhenqi and Jin Weina, took a group photo with Yao Ming, chairman of the Basketball Association, and coach Zheng Wei, although it was only for a moment, but it was meaningful. This is not only a warm farewell to their national team, but also marks their official retirement from this team.
Pan Zhenqi, a basketball veteran born in 1995, is 1.92 meters tall, and she plays the role of power forward and even center from time to time. From the Tokyo Olympics to the 2022 Australia World Cup, to the 2023 Asian Cup and Asian Games, Pan Zhenqi has always been the best choice for the Chinese women's basketball team. Especially in 2024, although she is still in good form, she has been a frequent central striker in a series of warm-up matches and international competitions, and she has been missing out on the Paris Olympic squad due to an aggravated injury.
Kim Weina, a defender born in 1992, is known for her all-round skills and fearless competitive attitude. Whether it is the 2022 World Cup or the 2023 Asian Cup and Asian Games, Jin Weina participated in the whole process, winning one runner-up and two championships with her teammates. However, during the national team training camp in May this year, despite her all-out efforts, the coaching staff ultimately decided not to include her in the Olympic squad due to age and tactical considerations.
The final list of the 2024 Paris Olympics is only slightly adjusted compared to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, showing that the Chinese women's basketball team is quietly replacing the old and the new while maintaining stability. With three centre-forwards, four strikers and five defenders on the list, the combination is expected to meet the challenge of Paris.
Although the results of the recent 13 warm-up games are not satisfactory, with only 2 wins and 11 losses, this does not fully reflect the strength of the Chinese women's basketball team. After all, the team has been facing personnel inadequacies and injuries. Moreover, the Chinese women's basketball team has always been known for its stable performance in major competitions, and coach Zheng Wei is good at stimulating the potential of players at critical moments. From repeated defeats against Japan to spectacular performances on the world stage, the Chinese women's basketball team has proven that it can compete with any strong team in key moments.
The recent warm-up match with the France women's basketball team, although it was carried out in many difficulties, the Chinese women's basketball team showed its most complete tactical layout, and Li Meng and Li Yueru's form rebounded, which made people see a spark of hope. This is not only a good preview for the upcoming Olympic Games, but also an encouragement to these women's basketball girls. After all, for many of the players, this may be the last Olympics of their careers, and it's only natural that they'll give it their all to get glory.