(SP)U.S.-ATLANTA-FOOTBALL-FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP-BORUSSIA DORTMUND VS CF MONTERREY
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The Star
21 hours ago
- The Star
Twin towers power China past S. Korea at FIBA Women's Asia Cup
SHENZHEN, July 15 (Xinhua) -- Han Xu and Zhang Ziyu combined for 36 points to lead defending champion China to a 91-69 victory over South Korea in a Group B match at the 2025 FIBA Women's Asia Cup on Tuesday. Both teams struggled to find their rhythm offensively in the first half. China missed several early chances under the rim, with Li Yuan, Luo Xinyu and Han all misfiring in the paint. South Korea also failed to capitalize on multiple wide-open opportunities, and the game remained scoreless for nearly two minutes before Park Ji-hyun broke the drought with a basket. With the Chinese squad slow to settle, 23-year-old forward Luo stepped up with several key offensive rebounds and flashy dishes. 18-year-old Zhang, who stands 226cm tall, entered midway through the first quarter and remained a dominant presence in the paint, although South Korea targeted her lack of mobility on offense. An He-ji nailed a stunning long-range buzzer-beater to cut China's lead to just three points at the end of the first period. In the second quarter, South Korea suffered a scare when veteran center Park Ji-su sustained a shoulder injury while defending Zhang. She was forced to the bench but returned for the second half after treatment. China made a crucial tactical adjustment after the break, unveiling the twin-tower lineup of Han and Zhang for the first time in the tournament. The move paid immediate dividends, as the two centers scored in quick succession to extend China's lead to double digits. South Korea kept the margin within striking distance thanks to a flurry of three-pointers, hovering around a 10-point gap. In the final three minutes of the third quarter, China switched to a small-ball lineup with no traditional center. The pace picked up, and sharp drives by Jia Saiqi and Wang Siyu helped China take a 17-point cushion into the final quarter. China's shooting behind the arc, which had been cold through the first three quarters (1-of-12), finally warmed up in the fourth. Huang Sijing, Yang Liwei and Zhai Ruoyun knocked down timely triples, stretching the lead. Meanwhile, South Korea struggled with fatigue down the stretch, and several smart cuts failed to produce points. As the clock ran out, China secured a 91-69 win to remain unbeaten in the group stage. Han and Zhang each scored a team-high 18 points for China, with Han also grabbing a game-high 12 rebounds. For South Korea, Choi I-saem hit four three-pointers to lead her team with 16 points, while An He-ji added 15. "This was the most crucial game of the group stage, and we did a lot of preparation for it," said China's head coach Gong Luming at the post-game press conference. "Our young team was eager to perform well, but they were a bit anxious at the start and didn't play up to their usual level," he noted, adding, "But on the defensive end, the players gave good effort." Speaking about the two key lineup adjustments in the game, Gong said the twin-tower combination of Han and Zhang was effective on offense, but also admitted it had defensive drawbacks. "The twin-tower hasn't been used much in practice. We hope to build better chemistry between them through real-game experience - it will be an important option for us in the future," Gong explained. He also emphasized that China can't rely solely on its advantage in the paint, so he used a smaller lineup at times, aiming for faster transitions and quick scoring after securing rebounds.
Malaysia Sun
a day ago
- Malaysia Sun
(SP)JAPAN-TOKYO-BADMINTON-JAPAN OPEN 2025-MIXED DOUBLES
(250715) -- TOKYO, July 15, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Cheng Xing (L)/Zhang Chi react during the mixed doubles round of 32 match between Cheng Xing/Zhang Chi of China and Amri Syahnawi/Nita Violina Marwah of Indonesia at the Japan Badminton Open 2025 in Tokyo, Japan, July 15, 2025. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)
Malaysia Sun
2 days ago
- Malaysia Sun
China shines at women's softball Asia Cup 2025
XI'AN, July 14 (Xinhua) -- Host China notched a pair of 15-0 wins against India and Hong Kong, China at the ongoing women's softball Asia Cup 2025 here on Monday. Runner-up in the tournament's previous edition, China took an early lead against India in the first inning, with Xie Yue contributing a base hit that allowed Yan Siyu to score. The host continued to increase its advantage, scoring 10 runs in the second inning to eliminate any suspense. In the third inning, Xie Jiaxin hit a home run, and Li Jiaqi sealed the victory with an outstanding base hit. "I am very happy with the result, and I'd like to thank my coach for giving me the opportunity to play," Li Xintian of Xi'an Physical Education University told Xinhua after her China debut. "After the first inning, the coach asked us to be patient. His suggestion made our performance become better and better." Li Xintian added. In the later game, China hit two home runs in the second inning against Hong Kong, building a 13-0 lead before the third inning. The team added two more points, earning their second consecutive win. "We still have something to improve although we had two wins. For example, we may do better in defense and running," said China's Ren Min. The Asia Cup also serves as the qualifier for the 2026 Women's Softball World Cup and the 2026 Asian Games. The top three teams will qualify for the World Cup, while the top eight will secure spots at the Asian Games. The 10 teams will compete in a round-robin format over the first six days of the seven-day event. The top two teams will face off in the gold medal game on Sunday, while the third and fourth-place teams will compete for the bronze medal. "Since May 18, our team has been training together. Our players executed our tactics well, and their performance looks promising," said China's team manager Yang Liu. In other matches on the opening day, Chinese Taipei defeated Hong Kong 10-0, and overwhelmed Thailand 19-0. Defending champion Japan beat Malaysia 10-0, while the Philippines routed Thailand 15-1, and South Korea edged Singapore 5-0. On Tuesday, China will face Malaysia and Thailand.
