Yao Ming blames self for China’s Olympic, World Cup setbacks

September 9, 2019 admin FIBA, Sports

Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Mon, 09 Sep 2019 09:06:21 +0000

BEIJING (AFP) – Basketball legend Yao Ming said he blamed himself for host nation China’s poor performances at the Basketball World Cup after their latest chastening defeat on Sunday.

Yao Ming, head of the Chinese Basketball Association and former NBA player, watches as China and Venezeula compete during their group phase basketball game in the FIBA Basketball World Cup at the Cadillac Arena in Beijing, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Yao Ming, head of the Chinese Basketball Association and former NBA player, watches a match of China. (AP)

Sunday’s 86-73 loss to Nigeria in the classification round for teams outside the top 16 means China have failed to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics directly from the World Cup, just days after the shock of crashing out at the group stage.

The popular former NBA star became president of the Chinese Basketball Association in 2017 pledging to reform a state development system he said was badly in need of an overhaul, raising hopes of resurgence in China’s most popular sport.

But the hosts failed to qualify for the
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