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Weibo users laud China women’s basketball team after crushing 107-44 win over South Korea in World Cup opener

  • China thrash South Korea in opening game in Sydney, with Bosnia and Herzegovina up next on Friday
  • Fans praise Zheng Wei’s side on social media – ‘when have Chinese female athletes let us down?’

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China’s Li Meng runs past South Korea’s Lee So-hee  (left) during their game at the women’s Basketball World Cup in Sydney, Australia. Photo: AP

China enjoyed a flying start at the 2022 Fiba Women’s Basketball World Cup, crushing South Korea 107-44 in their opening game in Sydney, Australia on Thursday.

Zheng Wei’s team built up an early double digit lead and never looked back, with their athleticism and size advantage overwhelming the Koreans at both ends of the court.

All 12 players got minutes, with 11 in total hitting the scoreboard – five of them reaching double figures – for China, who held their opponents to 23 per cent from the field.

Li Meng and Yang Liwei scored 14 points apiece, the latter also adding 3 rebounds and 4 assists. Han Xu scored 13 points, with 15 rebounds and 2 blocks, while Li Yuan had 12 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists, and Pan Zhenqi had 11 points and 6 rebounds.

It was a near flawless performance for China, who led 54-20 at half-time and will next be in action on Friday against Bosnia and Herzegovina – whom Puerto Rico crushed 82-58 for their first-ever World Cup win.

China’s Li Yueru shoots against South Korea. Photo: AFP
China’s Li Yueru shoots against South Korea. Photo: AFP

“I hope to have the best performance to celebrate the motherland’s birthday,” coach Zheng said, ahead of China’s seven-day National Day holiday, which starts on October 1.

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