Before reading this article, please click "Follow", which is not only convenient for you to discuss and share, but also can bring you a different sense of participation, thank you for your support
Looking back, we can't help but sigh: How Zheng Haixia, an ordinary rural girl, gradually grew into a dazzling superstar in the basketball circles of the mainland and even the whole of Asia through unremitting efforts! In 1979, at the age of 12, she stepped into the sports school to receive professional training, and only one year later, she was selected into the military basketball team of Wuhan City, Hubei Province because of her outstanding talent.
It was here that Zheng Haixia's outstanding skills were on full display, and two years later, she was selected for the national youth team, a process that was truly breathtaking.
Time came to August 1984, when Zheng Haixia was only 16 years old, but ushered in the first Olympic event in her life, and fought hard in the Los Angeles Olympic Games, participated in five fierce competitions, with her unparalleled strength, helped the Chinese women's basketball team win the silver medal.
This feat undoubtedly made the young women's basketball star instantly the focus of attention of the people of the country, and since then, Zheng Haixia has shown her style on the world basketball stage.
In the years that followed, Zheng Haixia's career climbed to a new peak. In 1990, she won the Asian Championships in Singapore again, and at the same time, she met her first love.
Although this relationship did not come to an end, it did not have any negative impact on Zheng Haixia's career. At the 1994 World Championships, she was once again awarded the best center and the best athlete, further cementing her high status in Asian basketball.
In 1997, Zheng Haixia became the first Asian player to compete in the WNBA, marking a new chapter in her career. In two seasons with the Los Angeles Sparks, she continued to be in excellent form, and her physical pain worsened.
After a long period of high-intensity training and competition, Zheng Haixia's waist, knees and other key parts were injured to varying degrees.
Finally, at the 1996 Olympics, the former basketball goddess had to lose regrettably. In 1998, at the age of 30, Zheng Haixia officially announced her retirement, ending her brilliant and challenging career.
Although she can no longer win gold medals for her country on the international stage, her countless brilliant achievements on the court are enough to make her a generation of basketball goddesses and go down in history forever.
After retiring, Zheng Haixia is still actively engaged in basketball, representing the Bayi team in the national league as a coach and player, and helping the team win the championship, showing her endless love and persistent pursuit of basketball.
Ms. Zheng Haixia's successful promotion to the rank of colonel shows that the mainland government highly recognizes and appreciates her. Although she has been away from the court for many years, Ms. Zheng Haixia has always been passionate about basketball, paying close attention to the latest developments in the basketball field and actively participating in various public welfare undertakings.
The former Chinese women's basketball superstar, from an unknown rural girl, has gradually grown into a well-known basketball star in Asia and even the world, and is still active in the basketball world after retiring, her life course is undoubtedly a legendary story full of passion and struggle.
Despite the challenges she faced at the peak of her career, Ms. Zheng was able to live happily ever after, further highlighting her perseverance as an exceptional athlete.
In Ms. Zheng Haixia's illustrious basketball career, she has also experienced a regrettable emotional twist and turn. The story takes place during the 1990 Asian Championships in Singapore.
At that time, Ms. Zheng Haixia was in the prime stage of her career and had a high reputation in Asian basketball. At the Asian Championships, she met a man who was also tall, who was the core player of the basketball team of Huazhong University of Science and Technology.
The two came together because of their shared basketball dreams and started a sweet and beautiful relationship.
However, due to Ms. Zheng's frequent overseas visits to participate in international competitions, the two had to endure a long-distance relationship. This is undoubtedly a huge psychological burden for her boyfriend who has always been by her side.
Moreover, Ms. Zheng Haixia had become a well-known basketball goddess at that time, which made this ordinary college student feel pressured.
After three years of unremitting efforts, the two finally failed to cross this insurmountable gap, and finally chose to break up in 1993. For Ms. Zheng Haixia, who is in the prime of her youth, this is undoubtedly a heavy blow.
Losing this feeling, she will inevitably feel endless loss and pain in her heart.
As an exceptional athlete, Ms. Zheng Haixia quickly adjusted her mindset and chose to face the reality bravely. She devotes all her passion and energy to basketball training and games, hoping to fill the void in her heart.
In the course of the following years, Zheng Haixia's career is even more prosperous and unstoppable. At the 1994 World Championships, she was once again awarded the best center and the best athlete, thus cementing and enhancing her high status in Asian basketball.
Although she has suffered a heavy blow in the field of emotional life, she has never given up the persistent pursuit of beautiful love. This may be the underlying reason why she finally decided to marry an ordinary person.
In the glorious stage of Zheng Haixia's career, she finally ushered in the advent of true love. This person is the ordinary man who has been waiting for her silently for many years - Xu Qinghua.
In 1997, Zheng Haixia was invited to join the Los Angeles Sparks, ready to shine in the WNBA. And on the other side of the distant Pacific Ocean, Xu Qinghua, who has always been obsessed with chasing the goddess of women's basketball, is staring at her affectionately at the moment.
It turns out that Xu Qinghua has regarded Zheng Haixia as an idol since he was a child, and he will carefully record the wonderful moments of each of her games. When Zheng Haixia officially set foot in the WNBA, Xu Qinghua embarked on a proactive online pursuit.
At first, in the face of such an ordinary suitor, Zheng Haixia did not pay much attention. After all, as a top basketball superstar, she already has countless admirers.
Xu Qinghua, with his unique way, touched the depths of her heart again and again.
He will collect all kinds of affectionate articles and quotes, carefully arrange them into graphic information, and send them to Zheng Haixia again and again. This nuanced expression makes the goddess of women's basketball deeply feel that she is being "interpreted" with her heart.
As time passed, this once unknown young man became more and more important in Zheng Haixia's heart.
When the two finally ushered in the day of meeting, Xu Qinghua's heart was full of tension and expectation. He was worried that he might make a bad impression on Zheng Haixia, so that his hands couldn't help but tremble slightly.
However, unexpectedly, the meeting lasted for several hours, which rekindled Xu Qinghua's firm belief in true love.
In order to further consolidate the emotional connection between them, Xu Qinghua made a decisive decision to frankly inform Zheng Haixia of the fact that they were both from Henan Province, and the resonance from the deep feelings of his hometown made Zheng Haixia feel good about him.
With the passage of time, the relationship between the two people has become stronger and stronger, and for a long time, Xu Qinghua's admiration for Zheng Haixia finally touched her heart deeply, and this love came.
In June 2010, the 43-year-old legendary woman Zheng Haixia and Xu Qinghua held an unprecedented wedding in the capital Beijing, and since then they have officially entered the palace of marriage. For this partner who has never met but has always been with her, Zheng Haixia's heart is full of endless gratitude and deep dependence.
It is because of his selfless dedication that her life has been able to achieve unprecedented happiness and tranquility.
Although Zheng Haixia finally found her own happy home, she still left a trace of regret in her life. That is, as a "giant" with a height of more than two meters, she cannot give birth to a healthy child for her husband Xu Qinghua.
In a talk show, Zheng Haixia once frankly said that due to the influence of her own family genetic factors, even if she gives birth to offspring, her health is unpredictable. Therefore, she and her husband finally chose to give up this idea and devote themselves to their happy married life.
For such a woman who fought for national honor and had a great reputation in basketball, it was undoubtedly a huge regret not to be able to have children of her own. However, her husband Xu Qinghua gave her meticulous care and unwavering support.
In the long years, he has always been Zheng Haixia's most solid backing, and he embraces everything about her with sincere love. As he once affectionately said to her: "I am willing to be your safe haven, shelter you from the wind and rain."
With such a trustworthy partner, Zheng Haixia can bravely face all kinds of challenges in life. Even if she can't have children of her own, she can still enjoy a happy married life to the fullest.
In her mind, Xu Qinghua is undoubtedly the most precious gift in her life.
Although she has been retired for many years, Zheng Haixia's love for basketball is still the same. She has always kept a close eye on the latest developments in the sport and actively participated in various basketball charities, making her life full of meaning and fun.
On that day in February 2024, the world basketball world was shocked by a video! The video released by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) is the legendary Chinese women's basketball player Zheng Haixia stepping on the world basketball stage again after a full 27 years.
In this video full of enthusiasm and sincerity, Zheng Haixia came to the scene to offer her most sincere wishes to a young and outstanding player Li Yueru, and at the same time, she also excitedly announced to the world: Li Yueru is about to join the Los Angeles Sparks, which is undoubtedly exciting news!
This video not only won the warm applause of the fans, but also made people deeply feel the endless love of the former women's basketball goddess for basketball.
Going back 27 years, Zheng Haixia had already set a record in the Olympic and World Championships, and her name left an indelible mark on the history of Chinese basketball.
However, at the 1996 Olympics, the former basketball goddess was unfortunately defeated and finally chose to retire in 1998.
Despite suffering from serious injuries at the end of her career, Zheng Haixia never gave up her love for basketball. After retiring, she represented Bayi in the national league as a coach and player, and successfully helped the team win the championship.
Zheng Haixia's military rank was also promoted to the rank of colonel, which fully demonstrates the country's high recognition and respect for her.
Even though it has been many years since she left the court, Zheng Haixia still keeps an eye on the latest developments in basketball. In February 2024, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) released a video in which Zheng Haixia once again stood on the world basketball stage after 27 years.
In this video, the former queen of Chinese basketball sends her most sincere wishes to young player Li Yueru with deep affection, and warmly congratulates her on her upcoming joining the Los Angeles Sparks.
This not only attracted bursts of applause from the fans, but also made people deeply realize that Zheng Haixia's love for this sport has never diminished.
Looking back on the past, Zheng Haixia will definitely have endless emotions in her heart. At that time, with her excellent skills and perseverance, she won brilliant results for the Chinese team in the Olympic Games and the World Championships, and became a bright pearl in the Asian basketball world at that time.
Although Zheng Haixia regrettably retired due to a serious injury in the prime of her career, her heart is still full of endless love and dedication to basketball. She has always paid close attention to the latest developments in basketball and actively participated in various public welfare basketball activities to express her enthusiasm for this great cause.
Stepping on the world-class basketball arena again this time is undoubtedly the most noble tribute to Zheng Haixia's brilliant basketball journey. Once a legendary superstar, she sent sincere and deep wishes to the new generation of basketball pride with her unique experience and deep affection, fully demonstrating her strong sense of social responsibility as an outstanding basketball player.
To some extent, Zheng Haixia's life trajectory is like a concise microcosm of the historical picture of Chinese basketball. From an unknown rural girl, she has gradually grown into a unique legend in Asian basketball, and is still active in the basketball circle after retiring, she has written a touching legend with her own hard work.
This former queen of women's basketball will surely forever be recorded in the history of Chinese basketball and become the brightest star.
From an ordinary rural girl to a basketball queen who has attracted global attention, and then to a happy married life, Zheng Haixia's life journey can be described as ups and downs, and the waves are magnificent.
Her story is undoubtedly the living epitome of an inspiring and inspirational saga.
In 1979, Zheng Haixia, who was only 12 years old, stepped into the gate of the sports school, and with her outstanding talent and unremitting efforts, she quickly rose to the core of the Chinese women's basketball team. At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, at the age of 16, she helped the national team win a silver medal with an astonishing 56% shooting rate, and became a national basketball star overnight.
Since then, Zheng's career has skyrocketed. She won the Asian Championships in 1990 and the best center and athlete at the 1994 World Championships, establishing her as a leader in Asian basketball.
In 1997, she became the first Asian player to land in the WNBA, writing a new chapter in the history of Chinese basketball.
Despite suffering a serious injury at the 1996 Olympics that ultimately failed to achieve the expected victory, Zheng Haixia never wavered in her love for basketball.
After retiring from the game, she returned to the pitch as a coach and player, helping Bayi win the national league championship and rising to the rank of colonel.
Even though she has long since said goodbye to the stage of basketball games in the past years, Ms. Zheng Haixia's love and attention to this sport has never diminished in the slightest. Just in 2024, she reappeared in a video from the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) to convey her sincere wishes to a young athlete, a gesture that not only aroused an enthusiastic response from the fans, but also demonstrated her sense of social responsibility as a senior in the basketball world.
In addition to the brilliant achievements in her career, Ms. Zheng Haixia's personal emotional life is also full of ups and downs. At the 1990 Asian Championships, she met her first love, but the relationship ended in regret due to her inability to overcome the barrier of a long-distance relationship.
Still, the experience didn't dampen her desire for love.
Finally, in 1997, Xu Qinghua, an ordinary man who had been silently in love with her for a long time, walked into her life, gradually narrowed the distance between each other through online chats, and finally realized the promise of marriage in 2010.
Although she was unable to conceive children with her husband, Ms. Zheng Haixia found her own happiness and tranquility in this warm family.
There is no doubt that Ms. Zheng Haixia's life journey is a vivid microcosm of the history of Chinese basketball. From an ordinary rural girl, she has grown into a world-renowned basketball goddess, and now has a happy married life, she has written a touching legend with her hard work.
This former women's basketball superstar will forever be engraved in the long history of Chinese basketball and become the most dazzling star.