On the 12th, the secretary-general of the International Basketball Federation, andrya Zagris, praised China’s women’s basketball as the “most promising” team at the annual regular media year-end meeting, and looked forward to the continued development of Asian women’s basketball.
Zagris said: “I don’t know if they are the best team, but in my eyes, they are the most potential team. There are a group of young players such as Han Xu and Li Meng in the Chinese team. I saw their confidence. As long as they set foot on the field, they will have the confidence to beat any opponent.”
In this year’s Women’s Basketball World Cup, women’s basketball Chinese girls passed through all the way and finally won the silver medal. This is the second time that the Chinese team has won the runner-up in the women’s basketball World Cup (including its predecessor World Championships). The last time was in the women’s basketball world championships in 1994.
Zagris said: “Just as Yao Ming, chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association, told me before the match, this team will come to the end. There are many good competitions women’s basketball the club level in Asia, such as WCBA in China. I believe we will continue to work hard with various associations to develop women’s basketball sports.”
Regarding the issue that part of the basketball games in the Paris Olympic Games will be moved to Lille, Zagris said: “We can compromise and change the location of the game, but what we cannot compromise is the safety and security of athletes. We understand the consideration of BOCOG in Paris, and they also want to hold the basketball match in a bigger stadium. But they need to provide us with a solution, which may cost a lot of money.”
Lille is more than 200 kilometers north of Paris, and the venue for hosting the Olympic basketball game is Pierre-Morua Stadium. This is the home court of Lille football club, which can accommodate 27000 spectators. Its ceiling design can be stretched. Football matches and international basketball matches have been held here.
Zagris said: “I am very glad that the attitude and efficiency of the Paris Olympic organizing committee have improved in the past two months. I am optimistic about Lille’s expected results on schedule.”
(WEN/Xinhua News Agency reporter Shan Lei)