CHN – Wang ready for the deep end

NINGBO (CBA) - China international Wang Zhizhi is hoping to lead his Bayi team to glory in this year’s CBA but he is also on another mission in 2009.

Wang’s Chinese New Year’s resolution is to learn how to swim.

It won’t always be that easy, however, when he’s on the road.

The swimming pool at a hotel he recently stayed in was not big enough for the 2.14m center.

The 1.2m depth wasn’t enough to even cover his legs.

"How are you supposed to learn to swim in that basin?" Wang asked.

"I hope to get a chance to learn how to swim in 2009 (the year of ox)."

While China was able to celebrate as hosts of the Olympic Games, the country was also touched by tragedy in 2008.

"The year 2008 to the people was a baptism,” Wang said, philosophically.

“There was sweat, sweet, sadness and shock. An earthquake, snow disaster, train crash and financial crisis all happened.

“The year, 2009, is doomed not to be an ordinary year.

“I hope something will happen less, yet something will happen more."

Wang's teammate Mo Ke hasn’t been talking about New Year’s resolutions, but he has spoken of the need to have a nice, long holiday with his family.

Mo said: "We left New Year's Eve and came back on the second.

“A day and a half is far too little.

"I wish I could have a week of days off so that I could go travelling with my family. Just one week is enough."

FIBA