Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, June 18 (Reporter Li Bowen, Lin Deren) The 2020 and 2021 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Basketball Hall of Fame Online Awards Ceremony was held on the 18th, as the only Chinese player selected, women's basketball star Zheng Haixia said that worthy of the beloved basketball and the motherland, the sound of basketball hitting the ground makes the heartbeat stronger.
Zheng Haixia was interviewed by the media. Photo by Pan Yulong, Xinhua News Agency
The 12 members of the class of 2021, including Zheng Haixia, attended the online award ceremony of the day together with the members of the class of 2020, who were postponed for one year due to the epidemic, and shared their acceptance speeches. An iconic figure in the Chinese women's basketball team, Zheng Haixia won bronze and silver medals with the team at the 1984 and 1992 Olympic Games, and third and second place at the 1983 and 1994 World Championships, respectively. In addition, Zheng Haixia has also made numerous achievements with the Bayi women's basketball team in the national competition. After retiring, Zheng Haixia served as the head coach and team leader of the Bayi women's basketball team. Although she has faded out of the basketball circle in recent years, she has always paid attention to the development and dynamics of the WCBA, CBA League, Bayi Men's and Women's Basketball, and National Men's and Women's Basketball Teams.
Zheng Haixia (center) watches from the sidelines. Photo by Xu Zijian, Xinhua News Agency
"When I received an email from my induction into the FIBA Hall of Fame on April 1 this year, I thought it was an April Fool's Joke from a friend." Zheng Haixia said, "Although I am currently the only Chinese player to be inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame, I know that there are many very good players who have also had outstanding achievements, and this historic honor should be shared with all these colleagues who have selflessly paid for basketball, which has nothing to do with money, but our lifelong wish, our youth is worthy of our beloved basketball, worthy of our country." ”
"If you can hear a basketball hitting the ground, that sound can make your heart beat stronger." Be sure to believe in yourself, work hard for your dreams, maybe one day, your efforts will be enough to change your life, but also to help those you love and the people who love you, you can even change the world and make the world a better place. Zheng Haixia said.
Founded in 2007, the FIBA Basketball Hall of Fame has been inducted into the Hall of Fame by more than 110 distinguished athletes and coaches from 37 countries and territories.
Source: Xinhua News Agency