China kicked off their 2025 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup campaign with a stunning 110-59 win over Indonesia, and the court was lit from start to finish! All 12 players contributed, proving that teamwork makes the dream work. 🎉
Despite a few early hiccups from a revamped starting lineup, China's rhythm soon took over with smooth ball movement setting up key plays. Center Han Xu impressed with her height and vision, while Indonesia’s offense struggled to find its groove after an opening jumper from Kim Pierre-Louis.
The game took an exciting turn when 18-year-old prodigy Zhang Ziyu entered the fray. Standing tall at 226cm, she quickly made her presence known, helping China close the first half with a commanding 49-20 lead. Her performance, along with the dynamic play of guard Yang Shuyu who frequently attacked the rim, energized the team and the fans! 🌟
With seven Chinese players scoring in double figures, the team extended their lead to 47 points by the final period, turning the match into a blowout victory. Earlier preparations paid off too—China assembled a 28-player training camp in mid-April and played six warm-up games against top Asian opponents like Australia and Japan, finishing with a 5-1 record ahead of the tournament in Shenzhen.
Head coach Gong Luming described the performance as an experiment with different lineups to help newcomers adjust to international play. Even with concerns over the absence of veteran guard Li Meng and key center Li Yueru (now with the Dallas Wings in the WNBA), fresh talent like Zhang Ziyu is sparking new hope for the team.
With this dominant start, China's team is sending a clear message: they’re here to shine on the Asian stage! Stay tuned for more high-energy updates from the tournament. 🏀🔥
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
