On June 30th, the Chinese U18 women’s basketball team lost to Australia 79-96 in the Asian Championship final, settling for second place. Despite Zhang Ziyu’s 42 points and 14 rebounds from 36 attempts, her efforts weren’t enough to secure a victory. Following the game, Zhang was seen crying bitterly. Throughout the match, she didn’t receive adequate support from her coach and teammates.
To start the game, Zhang often found herself at the top of the key, reducing her offensive impact. In the second quarter, she began to assert herself in the paint. However, in the crucial fourth quarter, Zhang didn’t get the ball when needed. Player number 8, Wang Jiaxin, repeatedly took matters into her own hands, leaving Zhang running up and down the court. With four minutes left, Zhang was substituted out by the coach and didn’t return. At that point, China was only down by eight points, and there was still a chance to close the gap, making the coach’s decision perplexing.
After the game, Zhang was visibly devastated by the loss, covering her face with a towel and weeping uncontrollably. While Zhang’s individual performance in the tournament was impeccable, the final game saw disappointing displays from her teammates and the coaching staff, leaving spectators with mixed feelings.
