FIBA Asia - China women favoured for repeating Asian Games title

DOHA (Asian Games) - History suggests China, South Korea, Japan and Chinese Taipei will contend for honours at the Asian Games’ women’s basketball tournament.

The fabulous four have collected all 24 medals since women's hoops joined the Asian Games in 1974.

Powerhouses China go into the event as defending champions and have three golds overall, while South Korea own three titles and Japan two.

Chinese Taipei have been creating a stir on the international stage and should contend for a medal.

Tom Maher’s China are the FIBA Asian Championship winners, but they finished 12th at September’s FIBA World Championship in Brazil.

Leading the way for the Asian giants will be the one-two punch of Nan Chen and captain Lijie Maio, who were very effective in South America.

Miao averaged 17.6 points and three assists per game while Chen added 17.4 points and 8.3 rebounds per contest.

The 1.95m Chen is Maher's top presence in the paint, but expect the Chinese to take advantage of having five players 1.88m or taller.

Chen's top sidekick in the frontcourt will be fellow center Xiaoli Chen, who was named Most Valuable Player in leading Liaoning to the Chinese league title.

And Maher will be hoping Feifei Sui can open things open with her shooting from the wing.

The Koreans are coming off a 13th-place finish in Brazil and would like to revenge their loss to China in the 2002 final at home in Busan and claim their first gold since 12 years.

Korea's game revolves around 1.9m rebounding monster Kim Kwe Ryong, a center who averaged 14.4 points, nine rebounds and one block at the FIBA World Championship, grabbing 17 rebounds against Senegal and 13 against Argentina.

Kim's main help will come from outside threat of Beon Yeon Ha, who scored 16.5 points per game this summer. And the Koreans’ game is directed by Choi Youn Ah, who also have very quick hands on defence.

Chinese Taipei are not as successful as the other trio, but have grabbed two bronzes, including the 2002 hardware in beating Japan.

Their main weapon for the under-sized team is 1.81m power forward Chu Yi Liu while Wei Chuan Chien and Chi Wen serve as an able playmaking duo in the quick backcourt.

Japan went without a medal four years ago and will be hungry to position themselves again atop in Asia after failing to qualify for the FIBA World Championship.

In the two-group, seven-team field, China are drawn into Group A with Japan, Lebanon and India. Korea are in Group B with Chinese Taipei and Thailand.

Kazakhstan were scheduled to be the fourth team in Group B but the western Asians e ended up not sending a women's team. 

By PA Sport