Fiba World Cup qualifiers: China down Kazakhstan 71-59 in front of top officials and cheering Hong Kong crowd
- Star centre Zhou Qi hits game-high 16 points and 12 rebounds at Tsuen Wan Sports Centre in Group F of Asian Qualifiers
- China’s new Hong Kong liaison office chief Zheng Yanxiong among host of high-profile officials on hand to watch victory
China’s new head coach Aleksandar Dordevic started his tenure in convincing fashion as his side romped to a 71-59 win over Kazakhstan in front of a sell-out crowd at Tsuen Wan Sports Centre on Thursday night.
The Fiba Basketball World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifiers victory was the first win for the Serbian, who guided his country to two silver medals at the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Rio Olympics, after he replaced Du Feng last November.
Among the 1,100 crowd, 600 of whom bought tickets when they went on general sale, were China’s new Hong Kong liaison office chief Zheng Yanxiong, the city’s Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki, and Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung.
Sitting courtside, the trio flanked Chinese Basketball Association president Yao Ming, who led the team when it arrived from Shanghai on Monday.
“It is a good start for us, we started the game well and were very focused in the opening half,” Dordevic said. “The players were able to play like they practised, despite our free-throws and three-point shooting not being good enough.”