Miao, Oga named as ambassadors for 2025 FIBA Women's Asia Cup
Beijing, May 15 (UNI) Chinese legend Miao Lijie and Japanese icon Yuko Oga have been named as the ambassadors for the 2025 FIBA Women's Asia Cup to be held in Shenzhen from July 13 to 20.
"It's a pleasure and a privilege to be the ambassador for an event that China is hosting after a gap of 10 years," said 43-year-old Miao.
"The FIBA Women's Asia Cup was one of those platforms that highlighted my performance as a player. Therefore, it's all the more special to be associated with such a great event in this role."
Miao made her debut in the FIBA Women's Asia Cup, formerly known as the FIBA Asia Women's Championship, at the 1999 edition in Shizuoka, Japan. Between 2001 and 2011, she led China to five titles in the tournament.
"To me, the 2025 FIBA Women's Asia Cup is a great opportunity for the basketball fans in China to witness some of the greatest women's basketball players in the world. But it's also the time for China and the fans to show the rest of the world what a great basketball nation China is," she added.
Miao played three Olympics - Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012, along with three occasions at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup (formerly known as the FIBA World Championship for Women) in 2002, 2006 and 2010.
Apart from her glorious achievements in the national team, Miao helped the Sacramento Monarchs clinch the WNBA title in 2005.
She is the first player to score 6,000 points in the WCBA, while helping the team win the league's title in 2011. She also led China to the gold medal at three Asian Games in 2002, 2006, 2010.
Miao was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2024, becoming the fourth Chinese after Mou Zuoyun, Zheng Haixia and Yao Ming to achieve the honor.
Oga played seven consecutive editions in the FIBA Women's Asia Cup, and also donned the Japanese jersey at the 2004 Athens Olympics and the world championship in 2010 and 2014.
She was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2023.
"The FIBA Women's Asia Cup is not just a basketball competition for women. It is a celebration of women's spirit," said Oga.
UNI/XINHUA BM
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