In a thrilling showdown at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, China's women's basketball team secured their first win by defeating Puerto Rico 80-58 in their final Group A match on Saturday. This victory keeps their aspirations of advancing to the quarterfinals very much alive.
Leading the charge was star player Li Meng, who racked up 18 points with an impressive display of aggression and skill. Despite shooting only four of 14 attempts, Li Meng's relentless off-the-dribble play earned her eight free throws, converting seven of them. Additionally, Li Yueru made significant contributions, scoring 14 points with a remarkable 75% shooting efficiency from the field.
With this win, China finished third in Group A, trailing behind Spain and Serbia, who had previously bested the team in their first two matches. There are 12 teams competing in the women's basketball event, divided into three groups. The top two teams from each group, along with the two best-performing third-place teams, will move forward to the quarterfinals.
Currently, China holds a better record and statistics compared to the other third-place contenders, Australia from Group B and Belgium from Group C. The upcoming matches between Australia and France, as well as Belgium and Japan, will determine the final two third-place teams advancing to the knockout phase.
Fans worldwide are cheering on the team as they aim to make a deep run in the tournament, with the possibility of reaching the quarterfinals hinging on the outcomes of these pivotal games.
Reference(s):
China remain hopeful of reaching women's basketball quarters in Paris
cgtn.com
