BEIJING (FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2017) - A new era is underway for China after the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) gave the highly respected Limin Xu the task of leading them into the FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2017.

Xu takes a step up and is promoted from the role of assistant coach to the long-serving veteran Tom Maher, whose final major tournament at the helm was last year's Rio Olympics.

His successor might not be as well-known on the global stage, but is a familiar face in women's basketball having only just taken Beijing Great Wall to the WCBA title.

It was the third time that 50-year-old has been crowned a champion in the domestic league and has two decades of experience as a head coach.

He has also spent much time working with the likes of national team star Ting Shao at club level, which will be handy as he tries to get China back on top at the Continental level.

The traditional Asian powerhouse has not won a title since they stepped onto the top step of the podium in Japan during 2011.

FIBA