appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Reuters

Associated Press

China used their considerable height to battle past ⁠the Czech Republic ⁠74-70 in an overtime thriller ⁠at the Fiba Women’s World Cup on Sunday, with the New York Liberty’s nearly 2.13-metre-tall (7 foot) centre Han Xu’s double-double making the difference.
In a later match, the United States survived their toughest test at the tournament in two decades with a 55-52 win over Italy, with Jackie Young scoring 10 points.
Han powered China to the comeback win with 22 points ‌and 14 rebounds to get their campaign back on track, after a demoralising 94-61 opening defeat by the US.
“I feel so proud of my teammates and coach,” Han said, after her team recovered from a five-point deficit with less than 30 seconds left on the ⁠clock to force the overtime. “Even in the last quarter, we lost six points but ‌we never gave up.”
Han had put China level at 53-53 in the final quarter after her team had trailed for most of the game.

Eliška Joklová put the Czechs 64-59 up with 27 seconds left only for Luo Xinyu to respond with a three-pointer and Yang Shuyu to level at 64-64 with three seconds to go – after Joklová missed two free throws.
There was still time for Joklová to miss another chance to clinch the win.
Yang also completed the scoring in overtime for China, which failed to get the most from 2.2-metre centre Zhang Ziyu. The 19-year-old sensation could score only three points in her second game after 13 on her World Cup debut against the US on Friday.
“She has very great talent and we need to fix how we play together,” Yang said of the teenager’s performance. “Today everybody could see that we did not play so well with her, and we have to fix it.”
China’s considerable height has astonished teams in Berlin and fans around the world, with Zhang providing one of the tournament’s early viral ⁠moments in her ⁠first call-up to the senior national team.
“I feel like if me and her both go to ‌the court together I always want to give her good energy,” Han told reporters. “She’s the best ‌post player, ‌she can finish to the rim and she can protect the ‌paint.”
Han will find herself across the court from her former Liberty teammate and ⁠close friend Lorela Cubaj when China play Italy in their final group-stage encounter ⁠on Monday.
Meanwhile, the Americans’ win stretched their winning run to 32 games going back to a loss to Russia in the 2006 semi-finals.
It was the fewest points the Americans had scored in a World Cup win since they beat Australia 42-38 in 1967.

Italy trailed by 15 points early in the second quarter, but fought back through Olbis Andre and Cecilia Zandalasini as they cut the gap to six points before the break.
Andre’s block on Caitlin Clarke before halftime brought a roar from the fans who increasingly got behind Italy, and Andre gave the Italians a three-point lead in the third quarter.
The US trailed 50-48 with 4:29 left before going on a 7-0 run. Italy (1-1) had one last chance to tie it, but Zandalasini’s three-pointer was off at the buzzer.
The tournament has provided plenty of ‌thrills so far, with ‌talent surging around the world, as Mali recorded their first win over a European team with an 82-73 Group A defeat of Spain, who had been widely expected to enjoy a deep run.


Women’s Basketball World Cup: China reach last 8, but fans worry over squad depth, fatigue

Women’s Basketball World Cup: Han Xu stars again as China seal second spot in group

Zhang Ziyu, China’s towering teenage basketball World Cup sensation, ‘just a little girl’

China get Fiba Women’s Basketball World Cup campaign back on track as Italy give US a scare

Fiba (International Basketball Federation)

Czech shooting guard Veronika Vorackova (right) tries to block China’s Han Xu during their Women’s Basketball World Cup match in Berlin on Sunday. Photo: AP

Zhang Ziyu had a tougher time in her second match of the tournament. Photo: AP

Italy’s Cecilia Zandalasini (centre) guards the US’ Caitlin Clark in a tight contest. Photo: AP

‘Adults playing against children’: China’s Zhang Ziyu is a towering presence on World Cup debut

Chinese centre Zhang Ziyu tries to block US small forward Napheesa Collier during their World Cup group D match at the Max-Schmeling-Halle in Berlin on Friday. Photo: AFP

US guard Paige Bueckers and Zhang Ziyu shared a moment after their match. Photo: AP

Coach Gong Luming described Zhang’s performance as a “passing grade”. Photo: AFP

Gunawan claims China Masters, beaten Lee hails ‘best day’ in Hong Kong badminton history

Jason Gunawan celebrates his moment of victory at the China Masters in Shenzhen on Sunday with the vanquished Lee Cheuk-yiu in the background. Photo: Xinhua

Lee Cheuk-yiu said he was pleased to be in a final again. Photo: AFP

Sport

China

Basketball

Centre Han Xu leads way as China edge Czech Republic in overtime thriller, but fail to get most out of teenage sensation Zhang Ziyu


Centre Han Xu leads way as China edge Czech Republic in overtime thriller, but fail to get most out of teenage sensation Zhang Ziyu.


Zhang Ziyu

China get Fiba Women’s Basketball World Cup campaign back on track as Italy give US a scare

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Centre Han Xu leads way as China edge Czech Republic in overtime thriller, but fail to get most out of teenage sensation Zhang Ziyu

Centre Han Xu leads way as China edge Czech Republic in overtime thriller, but fail to get most out of teenage sensation Zhang Ziyu