Chinese national women's team lost 62-47 to Japan on Sunday in
the opening of the 2008 Wheelchair Basketball International
Invitational Tournament, a Good Luck Beijing sport event, held in
the National Indoor Stadium.
Wheelchair basketball is still struggling to gain popularity in
China. Although the Chinese women's team took part in two
wheelchair basketball preliminaries for the Paralympic Games, they
failed to enter the world's arena. As the host country, China has
booked a spot and undergone a half-year-long training.
Players compete during the
2008 Wheelchair Basketball International Invitational Tournament, a
Good Luck Beijing sport event, in the National Indoor Stadium on
January 20, 2007.
Japanese athletes, who moved swifter on the court, led the first
half 28-25. China rallied and gained a 31-28 lead in the beginning
of the second half. However, Japan overcame the three points
deficit and led the third set 45-37.
"We did a good job. The team carried out strategies very well.
But it is a young team and it is the first time for them to compete
in the Paralympic Olympics. The tournament will be a tough
experience for China," head coach Liu Tiehua said, adding that
China will train harder in the future to better deal with Japan's
defense tactics.
China's Fu Yongqing shots
during the 2008 Wheelchair Basketball International Invitational
Tournament, a Good Luck Beijing sport event, in the National Indoor
Stadium on January 20, 2007.
Chinese athlete Zhang Santao said China played a good game but
it did not get used to Japan's defense tactics. "I feel very sorry
to lose the game."
China will set up a clash against European powerhouse Germany on
Monday evening.
Eight teams from six countries will participate in the
competitions. China, Canada, Germany and Japan will each send a
women's team, while the men's teams come from China, Canada, the
Netherlands, and Australia.
(BOCOG January 21, 2008)
