China’s women’s basketball team triumphed over Japan with a scoreline of 99-91 to clinch their third gold medal at the Chengdu Universiade.
The intense game, held on August 5, witnessed standout performances from Zhang Jingyi and Song Kexin, who contributed 21 and 20 points, respectively.
Center Han Xu nearly achieved a triple-double, showcasing her versatility with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists.
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China’s dominance was evident from the beginning, with Tang Ziting’s three 3-pointers propelling them to an early lead in the opening quarter.
Liu Yutong’s commanding presence in the paint and Han Xu’s exceptional ball rotation further solidified their advantage.
Japan, however, displayed resilience by capitalizing on turnovers and fast breaks, with Miyu Okamoto and Maho Hayashi impressing with eight 3-pointers out of 15 attempts.
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The final quarter intensified as both teams fought fiercely, but China’s Han Xu and Zhang Jingyi displayed nerves of steel, taking full control of the game and securing the victory for their team.
Head coach Li Sunnan commended his squad’s efforts, particularly highlighting the remarkable performance of the student-athletes who balanced their studies with outstanding achievements on the court. Zhang Jingyi’s standout performance was especially commendable among the student-athletes.
In other playoff matches, Finland showcased their strength in a hard-fought victory against Chinese Taipei, winning 56-49 to claim the bronze medal.
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Hungary defeated Poland 64-52 to secure the 5th position, while the Czech Republic narrowly edged out Brazil 79-74 in the 7th-8th playoff.
The Chengdu Universiade came to an exhilarating close with China reigning supreme in women’s basketball, proving their dominance in the sport on their home turf.
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