Latest news with #ZhangZiyu
South China Morning Post
20-07-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Furious Chinese fans turn on teen Zhang Ziyu, ex-WNBA star Han after shock loss to Japan
Chinese fans and commentators have not taken Saturday's shock loss to Japan in the Fiba Women's Asia Cup well, and former favourites Zhang Ziyu and Han Yu are bearing the brunt. Formerly hailed as 'phenomenal' and the 'twin towers' of the team, the pair were among their side's leading scorers in the 90-81 semi-final loss in Shenzhen, with 17 and 18 points respectively. But those points came on their worst shooting nights of the tournament, where teenager Zhang made 50 per cent of her attempts, and Yu 37 per cent. The change in public opinion was swift and brutal, especially for the 7ft 5in (2.26 metre), 150kg (330lbs) Zhang, who had previously earned nothing but accolades. Defeat brought comments about her weight and speed around the court, with the politest suggesting she had 'no mobility' and 'no technique inside the paint'. 'You can't expect a player like this to turn the situation around. She's not Yao Ming,' said one commentator. 'The reason why Yao Ming is successful is that he is not just tall,' another replied.
South China Morning Post
20-07-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Zhang Ziyu, China's ‘strategic nuclear weapon', on verge of medal in senior tournament debut
From the moment she stepped onto a basketball court, China's 7ft 5in (2.26 metre) centre Zhang Ziyu has been a viral sensation. Footage of the 'moving Great Wall' towering above her opponents as teammates passed her the ball before she would simply place it in the net without barely a jump has become a common occurrence since she burst onto the scene a year ago. Being a towering presence on the court is one thing, but being able to back it up with medals is another. At best, Zhang will claim a bronze medal at the Fiba Women's Asia Cup in Shenzhen on Sunday, after losing Saturday's semi-final to Japan 81-90. It is not the prize she would have hoped for, but she goes into the final game as an MVP contender, with 15 points per game, only 1.5 less than the two above her, despite only averaging 13.8 minutes per game. From being born to former professional basketball players, to gaining recognition from some of the world's best, to questions over her stamina and defensive ability, here is everything you need to know about China's 'strategic nuclear weapon'.
South China Morning Post
14-07-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Chinese basketball sensation receives mixed reviews in competitive debut
Fans and commentators were split over basketball phenomenon Zhang Ziyu's competitive debut in China's blowout victory over Indonesia in the Fiba Women's Asia Cup on Sunday. Starting off the bench, Zhang finished with 13 points, four rebounds, two assists and one block in 11 minutes as the reigning champions dominated in a 110-59 win on the opening day in Shenzhen. After the match, head coach Gong Luming defended Zhang, who turned 18 last month, against accusations she was slow and lacked defensive skills, and pointed out the 7ft 5in (2.26-metre) centre had not been practising with the team for the past 10 days. 'She has a very special and unique talent. She put loads of pressure on our opponents,' the 67-year-old said. 'But in real game situations, there are still areas of her game she needs to polish because she's still very young.' The emphatic win at Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre, in which the hosts were in front for all but 11 seconds of the game and led by as many as 54 points at one stage, was no surprise given the difference between the two teams. However, some in the local media were critical of the teenage sensation and 12-time champions China.
South China Morning Post
04-07-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
China's ‘moving Great Wall' basketballer makes senior team debut
China's up-and-coming basketballer Zhang Ziyu made her senior team debut in a warm-up match against Bosnia and Herzegovina in June. Many named Zhang the new 'moving Great Wall' for her agility and outstanding offensive abilities. Advertisement
South China Morning Post
04-07-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
China's 'moving Great Wall' basketballer makes senior team debut
China's up-and-coming basketballer Zhang Ziyu made her senior team debut in a warm-up match against Bosnia and Herzegovina in June. Many named Zhang the new 'moving Great Wall' for her agility and outstanding offensive abilities.
