18-year-old Zhang Ziyu was selected into the Asian Cup lineup and became the most attention

Zhang Ziyu, this 18-year-old basketball genius, is 2.26 meters tall. Her basketball career is full of glorious highlights. From the time she was 13 years old, she averaged 32 points, 15 rebounds and 4 blocks per game at the U15 Women's Basketball Championship, to the time she scored 47 points in the final to lead the team to win the championship, she has become a rising star in the basketball world. The then head coach's evaluation has been echoing in his ears: "Her physical condition has only been seen in 30 years, and she will definitely become a great player in the future." At the 2024 U18 Asian Cup final, she once again shocked the international basketball world with 42 points, 14 rebounds and 3 blocks, becoming the headline figure of FIBA's official website. Such performance directly allowed her to join the adult team and made fans look forward to her future.

And this year, Zhang Ziyu's basketball journey ushered in a major turning point. In May, she made her career debut in her senior team against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Asian Cup warm-up match. She made 8 of 9 shots in 12 minutes and scored 18 points and 7 rebounds. Standing at the basket, her height is almost parallel to the rebound. When attacking, her catch point is often 3 meters away. When defending, she is like a rebound monster that does not need to jump, and the four people can't touch the basketball in her hand. Her dominance not only made domestic fans excited, but also shocked experts in the international basketball world, calling her a "female version of O'Neal" and "Yao Ming girl". Some even exaggeratedly said, "Using Zhang Ziyu is like cheating."

But with her rise, controversy and doubts followed. Especially during the critical period of the national team training camp and the National Youth Team preparing for the U19 World Cup, Zhang Ziyu's whereabouts have sparked widespread discussion. The original plan was that Zhang Ziyu would return to the national youth team after completing the national team warm-up game, but the sudden change surprised everyone. When the National Youth Team came to Xianyang, Shaanxi for a warm-up match on June 23, Zhang Ziyu was missing on the list, and in Shiyan, Hubei, she was still in the team. This change confused many people. The assistant coach of the National Youth Team Chen Nan also said: "We are ready to not come back." This makes fans feel sorry. After all, the U19 World Cup is a rare opportunity for young players, and it is undoubtedly a pity to miss it.

In addition, Zhang Ziyu also encountered a vicious foul in the warm-up match with the Japanese women's basketball team. Tanaka of the Japanese team made many bad small moves when defending Zhang Ziyu, pulling his hair, pinching his arms, covering his face with a jersey, etc., which have far exceeded the scope of normal defense. After the game, Zhang Ziyu's arms were covered with purple scars, proving the harshness of these small movements. Chinese women's basketball coach Gong Luming spoke out angrily after the game, saying that this foul action had exceeded the reasonable range. In order to protect Zhang Ziyu, he had to limit her playing time. This incident has aroused strong response in Japan, and many Japanese netizens have also accused Tanaka of his behavior.

Along the way, Zhang Ziyu's talent and strength are undisputed. She is undoubtedly a brilliant new star of the Chinese women's basketball team, bringing us endless surprises and hopes. Her dominance on the court is not only a reflection of her personal honor, but also the result of her efforts in the Chinese basketball youth training system. Her enlightenment training from Jinan Sports School to the personalized training of the national team, each step confirms her persistence and growth, and also shows the progress of Chinese basketball in talent training.

But unfortunately, as she grew up, controversy and injustice often accompanied her. The most heartbreaking thing is that she missed the U19 Women's Basketball World Cup opportunity. For young players, a top-level event like this is an excellent opportunity to accumulate experience and improve themselves, and it is a pity to miss such an opportunity. Although the national team's game is also very important, the coaching staff decided to let her participate in the Asian Cup considering the pressure of defending the title, should she bear such high-intensity game pressure too early? After all, it takes time for a young player to grow up, and we want to see her grow up healthily and steadily, rather than over-consuming her potential.

In addition, Zhang Ziyu's malicious foul on the court is also indignant. Tanaka's bad defensive behavior is intolerable. Sports should be a stage for fair competition, and Tanaka's behavior completely undermines the fairness and viewing of the game. For an 18-year-old young player, the double physical and psychological damage is not only heartbreaking, but also aggravated the pressure of her career. In this case, the event organizer and referee should take action, strictly enforce the law, severely punish malicious fouls, and create a fair and safe game environment for the players. Without basic guarantees, who dares to do his best on the field?

This incident also reveals the various challenges that the Chinese women's basketball team may face in the international arena. Facing the strong inside advantage of the Chinese women's basketball team, the Japanese women's basketball team did not improve their strength, but instead used improper means to make up for the gap. This mentality is undoubtedly wrong. What we expect is a game that truly relies on strength to win, rather than a small, malicious move. If the Chinese women's basketball team wants to achieve better results in the international arena, they not only need to improve their strength, but also need to have enough courage to deal with unfair treatment and firmly safeguard their rights and interests. As a representative of the younger generation, Zhang Ziyu's experience has also inspired more young players. When facing controversy and injustice, Zhang Ziyu still maintains his love for basketball and insists on training and competition. This spirit is worth learning from each of us. Every progress and every game she made us full of confidence in the future of the Chinese women's basketball team. We believe that with the efforts of Zhang Ziyu and other outstanding young players, the Chinese women's basketball team will surely create more brilliant results in the international arena.

Zhang Ziyu's basketball journey has just begun, and the road ahead is still long. Her growth and development are not only related to her personal career, but also to the future of the Chinese women's basketball team.. As fans, we will definitely support her and look forward to her being able to overcome difficulties, continuously improve, and realize her dreams on the basketball court.

So, what do you think about Zhang Ziyu’s experience? Do you think it’s a pity that she should continue to focus on the adult team competition, or is it a pity that she missed the U19 World Cup? How can we better eliminate malicious fouls on the field? Everyone is welcome to leave a message in the comment area to discuss, cheer for Zhang Ziyu and also offer suggestions for the future of the Chinese women's basketball team!