NANJING (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers) - Superstar Ding Yanyuhang and promising big man Wang Zhelin are set to lead China at the Asian Qualifiers beginning tomorrow.

CBA Most Valuable Player Ding Yanyuhang was an easy choice for coach Li Nan, who had to grapple with injuries to other key players in his pool like national team stalwarts Zhai Xiaochuan and Zhao Jiwei. Ding will certainly be China's top weapon in the Asian Qualifiers, where they are set to take on Hong Kong and Korea. Up front, Wang Zhelin is projected to be this squad's most reliable and productive big man, and the 2.12m slotman will have to fill in the shoes usually reserved for Yi Jianlian and Zhou Qi.

Ding and Zhelin are the only holdovers of this team from their Rio Olympics 2016 squad, but that does not mean there won't be other players on whom coach Li can rely. Guards Wang Zirui, Fang Shuo and Mugedaer Xirelijiang, in particular, are all experienced playing at the Asian level, and they will definitely play big roles in the Qualifiers. Joining Zhelin in the front court, meanwhile, will be Dong Hanlin and youngsters Abudushalamu Abudurexiti and Shen Zijie, all of whom stand at least 2.03m. Their heft and length make China truly imposing.

China are in Group A of the Asian Qualifiers along with Hong Kong, Korea and New Zealand. China host Hong Kong on 23 November at the Gymnasium of Youth Olympic Sports Park in Nanjing before playing Korea on 26 November at the Goyang Gymnasium.

FIBA