When the 15-member Chinese women's basketball team for the Paris Olympics is released, let us examine and discuss it with an objective attitude to see if my colleague Mr. Zhang really has the strength to become a national player. First of all, we must affirm that her amazing skills and outstanding strength in the Chengdu University Games are indeed eye-catching. However, it is not difficult to see that this competition is only at the regional level, and the gap is obvious compared to the competition at the national team level. What can't be ignored is the strength of the strong opponents she faces. Although it encountered many competitors in the Chengdu University Games, from the competition level, the strength of its opponents was generally not as good as the national team. However, in the national team grinding stage, she will face top players from all over the country, all of whom have been rigorously selected and have strong qualities.
Entering the national team training camp needs to fully consider various factors such as age, experience and team assistance. Although Mr. Cheung has shown great talent in the University Games, he is still younger in age and experience than other candidates. Joining the national team is a big platform, and it is especially important to overcome individual challenges and actively integrate into the team. The selection requirements for the women's national basketball team are quite demanding and comprehensive. It not only pays attention to the technical level, but also pays more attention to the physical and mental quality, perseverance and psychological endurance and other aspects. Therefore, we must not rashly judge Mr. Zhang's qualifications based on his outstanding performance in a single game.
In the 2022 World Cup, the Chinese women's basketball team won the runner-up honor, which not only caused heated discussions in China, but also made the audience's interest in women's basketball gradually stronger. In 2023, the Chinese women's basketball team will continue to be brilliant, winning three continental competitions in succession, including the University Games, the Asian Cup and the Asian Games.
On the field of the Universiade, the Chinese women's basketball team overcame all kinds of difficulties with strong resilience and profound strength, and overcame obstacles all the way to victory. Each player gave his all, with excellent skills and the spirit of teamwork, to face strong opponents and win the throne of the Universiade. This battle of glory has many fans full of praise for the women's basketball team.
In the Women's Asian Cup that followed, a wonderful matchup with Japan was unforgettable. In the face of strong opponents, each of the women's basketball players still maintained high morale and finally won the game by a narrow margin. This hard-fought victory showed the world that the women's basketball team members are not afraid of difficulties and never give up, and it is inspiring.
Even more exciting is yet to come. On the stage of the Asian Games, the Chinese women's basketball team met its old rival Japan again and launched an epic competition. In the process of fierce competition, the women's basketball team's firm will and excellent skills were fully displayed, and they competed in the arena and finally won the Asian championship. This fierce and shocking game made people cheer and ecstatic, and this victory made the women's basketball team the brightest pearl on the court.
The Chinese women's basketball team's magnificent winning streak and the help of the Japanese team have made them the focus of the media. The girls' unique skills and perseverance are well received by the public, and their cohesion and team spirit are widely praised. These outstanding women's basketball players, with their outstanding skills and charming charm, have captured the hearts of countless fans and achieved the most eye-catching star group in the modern sports circle.
In the fiercely contested competitive world, injuries are an inevitable fact. But it was the lineup adjustments brought about by injuries that made the Chinese women's basketball national team begin to seek new replacements. Among them, a group of experienced core players are still eye-catching, and their professional strength and achievements have long been widely praised. But equally, other athletes continue to be challenged to be screened, perhaps because of team needs or their own outstanding performance.
The players who were able to be selected for the national team have gone through many tests and patiently trained and competed hard for a long time. Their perseverance and outstanding performance have proved their special abilities and infinite potential. Whether it's a warm-up match or a key battle, they always impress the audience.
For these outstanding players, being selected for the national team is a recognition of strength and the advent of opportunities. This is perhaps the best reward for their long-term efforts, and it is also a solid platform to propel them to new heights. Therefore, they actively participate in every training and competition, and spare no effort to win glory for the country wholeheartedly.
Being selected for the national team is undoubtedly a supreme honor, but it also implies more responsibilities and pressures. We must not only represent ourselves, but also bear the high hopes and expectations of the whole country. Whether on or off the field, they must have the courage to face difficulties, make wise judgments, and make the greatest contribution to the team's victory.
These acclaimed national team fighters fill in the lyrics with practical actions. They use their talents as scores, sweat in exchange for success, and inspire more young players to participate in this stage full of glory and enthusiasm. They have become role models to Xi, fully embodying the precious spirit of tenacity, unity and hard work.
Mr. Zhang's individual performance this season needs to be improved. Despite her heavy duty at the guard position, she averaged just 11.8 points and 2.2 assists per game. Despite being a first-time official member of the WCBA, she was not at the heart of the team. There was a slight deficiency in the breakthrough, and Mr. Zhang's performance on the field was slightly flat. In the defensive ring, because of his height of only 171 cm, he often becomes the focus of the opponent's attack, which is not advantageous in the fierce league competition. Even in the process of defense, they are often targeted by the other side.
When facing European and American teams, such as professional players in continental competitions, the height shortcomings are more prominent. Tall, strong, and skilled opponents pose a serious obstacle to their defense and offense. To achieve this, Mr. Zhang needs to redouble his efforts and improve his level through training to adapt to more intense competitions and more challenging opponents. Some fans may wonder why it is difficult for Mr. Zhang to gain a competitive advantage in the professional basketball league since his performance in the Universiade is so superior? We need to make it clear that the environment of the Universiade is completely different from that of professional basketball, and the backgrounds and competitive standards of the players are also very different.
The athletes participating in the Universiade are all college athletes, and the training methods they receive and the level of competition they compete in are relatively peaceful compared to professional athletes. Even if Mr. Zhang shows outstanding talent at the Universiade, it may not mean that he has the competitiveness to gain a foothold in the professional arena.
In contrast, professional basketball players such as Wang Siyu, Wu Tongtong, Li Yuan and Yang Liwei have taken on the role of key players in each team's lineup with their outstanding individual skills and rich game experience. In the crucial position of the back line, the strength and experience of these players are obviously higher than that of Mr. Zhang.
Although Mr. Zhang's performance in the Universiade is remarkable, it is not easy to gain a firm foothold in the guard line in professional basketball games. This is not to deny that Mr. Zhang's potential and ability are not enough to become a famous player, but only to emphasize that in the current stage of the professional league, he has not yet reached the standard of his foundation.
When we evaluate Mr. Zhang's performance in the 2023-2024 season, the experience of the competition cannot be overlooked. For many basketball players, representing China at WCBAL is an important stage in their careers, however, for Mr. Zhang, this season is particularly significant.
Not only is she 28 years old and ushering in her second season back in the WCBA, but it is also worth noting that the 2023-2024 season is the first time that Ms. Zhang has participated as a real professional player. In the 2021-2022 season, in order to meet the University Games, the Chinese Basketball Association specially formed a team to participate in the WCBAL event at that time, which was not only a training ground, but also a good time to warm up for the future.
Looking back on that time, the "Major-Sports Association United" left a strong mark on the field of WCBAL. As the soul of the team, Mr. Zhang showed extraordinary strength, and one of the classic moments was hitting 16 three-pointers in a game, scoring a game-high 50 points, breaking his personal single-game scoring record. The success of this game is not only a testament to her strong outside shooting ability, but also to the calm and confidence she has shown in major tournaments.
It is with that precious experience that Mr. Zhang has accumulated rich experience in the competition. Now, she's back in the WCBAL arena with a mature attitude, and she's well prepared for a tougher competitive environment and a tough defensive intensity. We can see that she is able to step up when it counts, work closely with her teammates, and play consistently consistently. There is no doubt that those experiences have laid a solid foundation for Mr. Zhang's success in the 2023-2024 season.
Although Mr. Zhang has performed well in the domestic league, he still lacks experience in competitions compared with outstanding defenders such as Wang Siyu and Yang Liwei who have entered the national team and experienced many major competitions at home and abroad. However, we cannot ignore Mr. Zhang's potential. With continuous efforts and improvement, he may be able to reach the professional level set by the national team and even make a breakthrough on the international stage.
As for the training process, the national team coaching staff tailors the coaching program to the unique abilities and characteristics of each player. Therefore, as long as Mr. Zhang shows his strengths, he may win the trust of the coach, so as to get more opportunities to participate and show himself.
As a person whose skills and experience still need to be improved, Mr. Zhang is 25 years old, although he is young, but he lacks the experience in the past high-level competitions. As a result, the prospects for selection for the national team in the current environment do not seem very promising. However, this does not affect our expectations of her potential. In a high-level league like the WCBA, she has more opportunities to be exposed to different tactics and personnel, learn from experience, hone her skills, and constantly improve herself. Therefore, although it seems difficult at the moment, we believe that with unremitting efforts and continuous improvement, we may be able to enter the national team in the near future. All in all, while the present may seem hopeless, the future is full of possibilities.