Chen headlines China’s final roster for WOQT
BEIJING (2016 FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament) - Eight players that featured for China at last year’s FIBA Asia Women’s Championship have been added to the final roster for the 2016 FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament (WOQT), head coach Tom Maher has confirmed.
China are among twelve WOQT teams competing from 13-19 June in Nantes, France, for the remaining five places for the Rio Olympics.
Although Maher has called up the likes of Ting Shao and Mengran Sun, Nan Chen’s return from the national team retirement represents a major boost for the Asian giants.
| China 12-player roster final roster for 2016 FIBA WOQT | |||
| Song Feng | Xu Han | Ziqi Han | Shan Li |
| Nan Chen | Xiaojia Chen | Song Gao | Hongpin Huang |
| Sijing Huang | Shanshan Li | Wen Lu | Ting Shao |
| Mengxin Sun | Mengran Sun | Di Wu | Zhifang Zhao |
The 33-year-old's decision to retire prior to the 2015 FIBA Asia Women to concentrate on coaching and motherhood hasn't lasted long, especially after seeing her team lost to Japan twice last summer.
Chen last played for the national team at the FIBA Asia Women’s Championship 2013 in Bangkok, Thailand, where China claimed a Third-Place finish.
Chen's recent performances during China’s preparation suggest the 1.95m center remains at very best.
The Chinese are in the WOQT Group D along with Spain and Venezuela.
In order to remain their Olympic regularity, China will need at least one win in the Group Phase to advance to the Final Phase where a win in the Quarter-Finals or in the Fifth-Game would ensure them a place in the Rio Olympics.
And Chen, who has featured in three editions of the Olympics - Athens (2004), Beijing (2008) and London (2012) - seems to be a piece that Maher needs to lead the team.
FIBA
