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Zhang Ziyu, China's ‘strategic nuclear weapon', on verge of medal in senior tournament debut

Zhang Ziyu, China's ‘strategic nuclear weapon', on verge of medal in senior tournament debut

From the moment she stepped onto a basketball court, China's 7ft 5in (2.26 metre) centre Zhang Ziyu has been a viral sensation.
Footage of the 'moving Great Wall' towering above her opponents as teammates passed her the ball before she would simply place it in the net without barely a jump has become a common occurrence since she burst onto the scene a year ago.
Being a towering presence on the court is one thing, but being able to back it up with medals is another.
At best, Zhang will claim a bronze medal at the Fiba Women's Asia Cup in Shenzhen on Sunday, after losing Saturday's semi-final to Japan 81-90.
It is not the prize she would have hoped for, but she goes into the final game as an MVP contender, with 15 points per game, only 1.5 less than the two above her, despite only averaging 13.8 minutes per game.
From being born to former professional basketball players, to gaining recognition from some of the world's best, to questions over her stamina and defensive ability, here is everything you need to know about China's 'strategic nuclear weapon'.
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