On February 10, in another match in the China division of the women's basketball qualifying tournament for the Paris Olympics, the Puerto Rico women's basketball team defeated the New Zealand team 69-67. According to FIBA analysis, the New Zealand team's group ranking is no longer better than that of the Chinese women's basketball team, so the Chinese women's basketball team has already won the Paris Olympics ticket in advance.
The Paris 2024 Women's Basketball Qualification Tournament will take place from 8 to 11 February, with 16 teams divided into four zones: China, Belgium, Brazil and Hungary, with the top three teams from each region qualifying for the Games. The Chinese team is in the Xi'an region of China with the New Zealand team, the French team and the Puerto Rico team.
On February 10, Li Meng (center), a player of the Chinese team, broke through in the game. Xinhua News Agency
Previously, hosts France and the 2022 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup champion United States had already qualified for the Paris Olympics. Therefore, for the Chinese women's basketball team, this time it is actually competing with the New Zealand team and the Puerto Rico team for two Olympic qualifications.
After defeating the New Zealand women's basketball team by 47 points in the first game, on the afternoon of February 10, the Chinese women's basketball team ushered in the second opponent of the qualifying round, the French team. Facing the world's No. 4 opponent, the Chinese women's basketball team was in a sluggish state and finally lost 50-82. After the game, coach Zheng Wei apologized: "I'm sorry for playing a very stinky ball. She said that the team will adjust as soon as possible to prepare for tomorrow's game. Li Meng also said that a game does not mean that the Chinese women's basketball team will lose confidence. "We'll continue to take stock and be better and finish the next game. ”
On February 10, Chinese team player Huang Sijing (second from right) broke through with the ball in the game. Xinhua News Agency
In another game later in the evening, the Puerto Rico women's basketball team defeated New Zealand 69-67. The New Zealand team swallowed two consecutive defeats and went out of the round one round early, so the Chinese women's basketball team joined hands with the Puerto Rico team to advance to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Li Yueru (front left) of the Chinese team shoots during a game on February 10. Xinhua News Agency
Although the Chinese team qualified for the Olympics ahead of schedule and completed the goal, the loss to the French team still exposed many problems in the team. For the Chinese women's basketball team, losing is not all bad, finding problems through the game and making timely adjustments will help the team to be in a better state on the Olympic stage. On the evening of February 11, the Chinese women's basketball team will welcome the last opponent of the Olympic qualifying tournament, the Puerto Rico team.
Southern + reporter Xu Yi
【Author】 Xu Yi
[Source] Southern Press Media Group Southern + client