In a surprising turn of events, basketball legend Yao Ming has stepped down as president of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). The announcement came on Thursday, stirring emotions among fans worldwide. 🏀🌏
\"Whether in the past, present, or future, basketball has always been a passion of mine,\" Yao shared. \"I hope everyone will continue to support Chinese basketball with me in the future.\"
Yao's journey as the chief of Chinese basketball began in February 2017. Over his seven-year tenure, the women's national team soared to new heights, clinching gold medals at two consecutive Asian Games—in Jakarta, Indonesia (2018), and in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province (2023). They also secured an impressive runner-up position at the FIBA Women's World Cup in Sydney, Australia, in 2022, matching their best-ever performance. 🥇🏆
However, the men's national team faced challenges, missing out on Olympic qualification for Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024. They also fell short at the FIBA World Cups in 2019 (held at home) and 2023 (in the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia). 😔
Before his administrative role, Yao was a superstar on the court. He led the Shanghai Sharks to a CBA championship in 2002 before becoming the first-overall pick in the NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets the same year. An eight-time NBA All-Star and five-time All-NBA Team honoree, Yao's impact on the game was monumental. His No. 11 jersey hangs retired in the Rockets' arena, and he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016. 🏀🔥
Vice President Guo Zhenming will succeed Yao as the new president of the CBA. Praising Yao's contributions, Guo stated, \"Yao's unique influence and ability to integrate resources within the basketball community are unparalleled. But as we aim to establish China as a sports powerhouse by 2035, we still have a considerable way to go.\"
As Yao Ming steps away from his presidential role, fans can only anticipate his continued influence in the world of basketball. After all, once a baller, always a baller! 🏀✨
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Yao Ming steps down as president of the Chinese Basketball Association
cgtn.com
