3x3 men's underdog China look to shock world at Paris Olympics
BEIJING (China) - A talented China will be out to defy the odds and make a giant-killing run at the Paris Olympics.
BEIJING (China) - A talented China will be out to defy the odds and make a giant-killing run at the Paris Olympics.
Let's take a closer look at the two-time Asia Cup bronze medalists.
CHINA
Ranking: 6th
Previous Olympic Appearances: 2021 (8th)
Squad: Ning Zhang, Yuanbo Zhu, Jiaren Zhao, Wenbo Lu
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Key Player: Ning Zhang
If you watched the Chengdu Masters, Ning Zhang would have captured your attention after playing bully ball to lead Beijing (CHN) to the semis.
He scored an insane 34 points to prove he's a scoring machine and he will be China's talisman in Paris.
It wasn't the first time he's stolen the show after his amazing breakout last season in Chengdu, where he won the MVP in Liman's (SRB) triumph.
The 27-year-old is fast becoming a hero in hoops crazy China due to his electric style of play, where he loves nothing more than putting defenders on posters.
Qualification: China qualified as one of the top-ranked teams to ensure a direct entry for their Olympic return.
With a completely different team, China will be hoping for a better campaign after finishing last in Tokyo with just two wins from seven games.
Since then, China won bronze medals in back-to-back Asia Cups to prove they can raise their game on the big stage.
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Expectations: China will arrive in Paris as an underdog to reach the podium. But that doesn't mean they can't make a giant-killing run with China boasting highly talented players, who have shown superstar qualities.
And it's not just Ning Zhang who will make the Chinese fans feeling excited about what lies ahead.
The 25-year-old Jiaren Zhao has had a big World Tour so far and living up to the hype as a 3x3 unicorn.
The 6ft. 8in (2.03m) youngster has the size to match it will bigger players, but he can handle the ball as if he's a much shorter player. And to further show off his skill-set, he can get crazy hot from deep.
The muscular Yuanbo Zhu is another athletic player for China, while Wenbo Lu is fearless and attacks the rack with aggression.
It's an imposing team with plenty of size and skill that will frighten the field in Paris.
FIBA