In the early morning of August 24, Beijing time, the Chinese men's basketball team arrived in the Philippines by night. It was not only their 12-hour journey that pained the outside world, but also their exhausted and emaciated figures, which forced the original training plan to be temporarily canceled.
Originally, the Chinese men's basketball team embarked on this World Cup trip to the Philippines, with the honor of the country and the expectations of hundreds of millions of fans. But this line is full of unexpected twists and turns.
Not only did the flight delay delay delay their departure time by two and a half hours, but what was even more disappointing was that they did not enjoy the treatment of a special plane, but huddled in economy class to accompany ordinary passengers. Compared with the high-quality treatment of the national football team, the men's basketball trip is undoubtedly embarrassing.
When the team finally arrived in the Philippines, their faces were full of exhaustion, and every look was filled with deep difficulty. Especially when I saw the airport photos, three basketball superstars: Li Kyle, Zhang Zhenlin and Jordjevic appeared in the same picture.
Although Li Kyle and Zhang Zhenlin have been in the NBA and have long been accustomed to frequent long-distance flights, at this moment, they cannot hide their fatigue. Djordjević showed his leadership demeanor, and despite the seriousness in his eyes, his heroic appearance was still respectful. However, Zhou Qi's situation was completely different from theirs, and he seemed a little confused in the sea of people.
In fact, Zhou Qi's state has been attracting attention recently. On the eve of the departure of the men's basketball team, his agency team released a statement revealing Zhou Qi's injury and asking him to undergo comprehensive rehabilitation and adjust his condition. This undoubtedly dropped a ticking time bomb for the upcoming Chinese men's basketball team. Fans are naturally worried that if Zhou Qi cannot go all out, then the journey of the Chinese men's basketball team in the World Cup will be more difficult.
The scheduled midday flight was delayed, allowing the men's basketball team to depart from morning to 9 p.m. to finally land at the hotel, consuming them an entire day. As an athlete, it's important to stay in top physical condition. But after such a journey, coupled with recent high-intensity training, both mental and physical strength is extremely challenging.
The photographer's lens captured the different faces of the team, and in addition to the stars already mentioned, Wang Zhelin, Cui Yongxi and Hu Mingxuan also looked tired.
However, more concerning than their physical exhaustion, what makes people care about is their inner state. The World Cup is approaching, facing many strong opponents, can the Chinese men's basketball team withstand the pressure and show its best self? As for Zhou Qi's injury, we all know how much he can help the team at his peak. I hope he can recover as soon as possible and win glory for the country.
Such a journey has tested both the team's body and their minds. But no matter what, they are our pride and the hope of hundreds of millions of Chinese fans. When the game comes, I hope they can forget the hardships of the journey, devote themselves wholeheartedly, and show the spirit of the Chinese men's basketball team. And we will fully support and be with them.