Latest news with #ZhangZiyu
Gulf Today
a day ago
- Sport
- Gulf Today
'Moving Great Wall:' China unleash towering teen basketball star
China look set to unleash their 2.26m (7ft 5in) "moving Great Wall" at the Women's Asia Cup after teenager Zhang Ziyu put in another towering display days after her debut. The 18-year-old centre scored 18 points as China beat great rivals Japan 101-92 on Wednesday in Xi'an in a warm-up for the regional tournament next month on home soil. It was her third appearance for the senior Chinese squad, having helped them to blowout victories over Bosnia and Herzegovina over the weekend. Chinese state media dubbed her and gangly centre Han Xu the "Twin Towers." Zhang's looming presence on court — footage showed her barely needing to jump to make a basket — seemed to stump Japan head coach Corey Gaines. Asked if he had figured out a way "to deal" with the teenager, the American ex-NBA guard told reporters: "We'll just say: Interesting. Very interesting." Zhang Ziyu (#28) shoots as Japan's Azusa Asahina (#14/R) blocks during a warm-up game in Xian. AFP Zhang hails from northern China's Shandong province and had reached 2.10m by the end of primary school. She has been likened by Chinese fans to Houston Rockets great Yao Ming. Yao, who at 2.29m was one of the tallest NBA players in history, was known as the "moving Great Wall" before retiring from basketball in 2011 and Zhang has now taken on the nickname. Both of Zhang's parents played professional basketball. Her father, Zhang Lei, turned out for the Chinese Basketball Association's Jinan Military Region while her mother Yu Ying played as a centre for Shandong, according to local media. Zhang Ziyu (#28) shoots as Japan's Miwa Kuribayashi (#77) and Nanako Todo (#75) try to block during a warm-up game. AFP The teenager may have a distinct height advantage but she has been told she needs to sharpen up. Experienced centre Yang Liwei said after Wednesday's win that Zhang "could have been tougher on some shots". "I think she played at her normal level," added Yang, who helped China win the Asian title in 2023. China meet Japan again on Friday at home for another warm-up. Both will play at the Women's Asia Cup in Shenzhen from July 13. Agence France-Presse
Japan Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Japan Times
China set to deploy teenage 'Moving Great Wall' Zhang Ziyu at Women's Asia Cup
China looks set to unleash its 226-cm "moving Great Wall" at the Women's Asia Cup after teenager Zhang Ziyu put in another towering display days after her debut. The 18-year-old center scored 18 points as China beat rival Japan 101-92 on Wednesday in Xi'an in a warm up for the regional tournament next month on home soil. It was her third appearance for the senior Chinese squad, having helped China to blowout victories over Bosnia and Herzegovina over the weekend. Chinese state media dubbed her and gangly center Han Xu the "Twin Towers." Zhang's looming presence on court — footage showed her barely needing to jump to make a basket — seemed to stump Japan head coach Corey Gaines. Asked if he had figured out a way "to deal" with the teenager, the American former NBA guard told reporters: "We'll just say: Interesting. Very interesting." Zhang hails from northern China's Shandong province and had reached 210-cm by the end of primary school. She has been likened by Chinese fans to former Houston Rockets great Yao Ming. Yao, who at 229-cm was one of the tallest NBA players in history, was known as the "moving Great Wall" before retiring from basketball in 2011, and Zhang has now taken on the nickname. Both of Zhang's parents played professional basketball. Her father, Zhang Lei, played for the Chinese Basketball Association's Jinan Military Region while her mother, Yu Ying, was a center for Shandong, according to local media. The teenager may have a distinct height advantage, but she has been told she needs to sharpen up. Experienced center Yang Liwei said after Wednesday's win that Zhang "could have been tougher on some shots." "I think she played at her normal level," added Yang, who helped China win the Asian title in 2023.
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
China's towering teen basketball ace Zhang Ziyu stars again in Asia Cup build-up
China look set to unleash their 2.26-metre (7ft 5in) 'moving Great Wall' at the Women's Asia Cup after teenager Zhang Ziyu put in another towering display days after her debut. The 18-year-old centre scored 18 points as China beat great rivals Japan 101-92 on Wednesday in Xian in a warm-up for the regional tournament next month on home soil. It was her third appearance for the senior Chinese squad, having helped them to blowout victories over Bosnia and Herzegovina over the weekend. Chinese state media dubbed her and gangly centre Han Xu the 'Twin Towers'. Zhang's looming presence on court – footage showed her barely needing to jump to make a basket – seemed to stump Japan head coach Corey Gaines. Zhang Ziyu greets an umpire before the match against Japan in Xian. Photo: AFP Asked if he had figured out a way 'to deal' with the teenager, the American ex-NBA guard told reporters: 'We'll just say: Interesting. Very interesting.'
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Sport
- Malay Mail
Move over Yao Ming, 2.26-metre teen phenom Zhang Ziyu is China's new hoop weapon
BEIJING, June 19 — China look set to unleash their 2.26m (7ft 5in) 'moving Great Wall' at the Women's Asia Cup after teenager Zhang Ziyu put in another towering display days after her debut. The 18-year-old centre scored 18 points as China beat great rivals Japan 101-92 yesterday in Xi'an in a warm-up for the regional tournament next month on home soil. It was her third appearance for the senior Chinese squad, having helped them to blowout victories over Bosnia and Herzegovina over the weekend. Chinese state media dubbed her and gangly centre Han Xu the 'Twin Towers'. Zhang's looming presence on court — footage showed her barely needing to jump to make a basket — seemed to stump Japan head coach Corey Gaines. Asked if he had figured out a way 'to deal' with the teenager, the American ex-NBA guard told reporters: 'We'll just say: Interesting. Very interesting.' Zhang hails from northern China's Shandong province and had reached 2.10m by the end of primary school. She has been likened by Chinese fans to Houston Rockets great Yao Ming. Yao, who at 2.29m was one of the tallest NBA players in history, was known as the 'moving Great Wall' before retiring from basketball in 2011 and Zhang has now taken on the nickname. Both of Zhang's parents played professional basketball. Her father, Zhang Lei, turned out for the Chinese Basketball Association's Jinan Military Region while her mother Yu Ying played as a centre for Shandong, according to local media. The teenager may have a distinct height advantage but she has been told she needs to sharpen up. Experienced centre Yang Liwei said after yesterday's win that Zhang 'could have been tougher on some shots'. 'I think she played at her normal level,' added Yang, who helped China win the Asian title in 2023. China meet Japan again tomorrow at home for another warm-up. Both will play at the Women's Asia Cup in Shenzhen from July 13. — AFP
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Sport
- Malay Mail
Move over Yao Ming, 2.26m teen phenom Zhang Ziyu is China's new hoop weapon
BEIJING, June 19 — China look set to unleash their 2.26m (7ft 5in) 'moving Great Wall' at the Women's Asia Cup after teenager Zhang Ziyu put in another towering display days after her debut. The 18-year-old centre scored 18 points as China beat great rivals Japan 101-92 yesterday in Xi'an in a warm-up for the regional tournament next month on home soil. It was her third appearance for the senior Chinese squad, having helped them to blowout victories over Bosnia and Herzegovina over the weekend. Chinese state media dubbed her and gangly centre Han Xu the 'Twin Towers'. Zhang's looming presence on court — footage showed her barely needing to jump to make a basket — seemed to stump Japan head coach Corey Gaines. Asked if he had figured out a way 'to deal' with the teenager, the American ex-NBA guard told reporters: 'We'll just say: Interesting. Very interesting.' Zhang hails from northern China's Shandong province and had reached 2.10m by the end of primary school. She has been likened by Chinese fans to Houston Rockets great Yao Ming. Yao, who at 2.29m was one of the tallest NBA players in history, was known as the 'moving Great Wall' before retiring from basketball in 2011 and Zhang has now taken on the nickname. Both of Zhang's parents played professional basketball. Her father, Zhang Lei, turned out for the Chinese Basketball Association's Jinan Military Region while her mother Yu Ying played as a centre for Shandong, according to local media. The teenager may have a distinct height advantage but she has been told she needs to sharpen up. Experienced centre Yang Liwei said after yesterday's win that Zhang 'could have been tougher on some shots'. 'I think she played at her normal level,' added Yang, who helped China win the Asian title in 2023. China meet Japan again tomorrow at home for another warm-up. Both will play at the Women's Asia Cup in Shenzhen from July 13. — AFP
