Zhou Qi return boosts China’s Rio preparations
BEIJING (Rio 2016 Olympic Games) - China's preparations for the Rio Olympics have been boosted with the much anticipated return of young sensation Zhou Qi. The 20-year-old, a member of the All-Star Five at last year's FIBA Asia Championship in Changsha-Hunan, spent the past two months working out for NBA teams so they could assess his skills before next month's draft.
China's Zhou Qi has center's height and guard's shooting ability, an intriguing draft optionhttps://t.co/sXSxUCncCs pic.twitter.com/xpBEfZnqzN
— AP Sports (@AP_Sports) May 20, 2016
A. Ainge on 7-foot-2 Zhou Qi: “He’s so long, he’s got a good touch. He’s probably the 3rd/4th most recognized name in Chinese basketball."
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 18, 2016
Zhou came back to his homeland on Wednesday to start preparing for the Rio de Janeiro Games.
"Right now I'm totally concentrated on the national team and the Olympics," the native of Xinjiang province said. "The coach and the whole national team coaching staff were very supportive during my time in the States and for that, I want to thank them all."
The 2.18m center played a pivotal role for China as they won the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship on home soil. He was their best player in one of their most important wins early on, a 76-73 come-from-behind triumph over Korea. Zhou had 21 points and 8 rebounds in that triumph, which China used as a platform to have an unbeaten run in front of the home fans.
Zhou's return to China has placed him alongside a couple of other teammates that made the All-Star Five, Yi Jianlian and Guo Ailun. Both of those players linked up with the national squad last week.
Shortly after arriving in Beijing, Zhou flew to Ningbo Beilun, where the Chinese national team had been training for over a week. They will soon play in a three-game friendly series against The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (MKD), who are No. 34 in FIBA World Ranking. China are No. 14.
"I'm looking forward to meeting my teammates. It's been a while since the last time I was with them," Zhou said.
It was noticeable on his arrival at Beijing International Airport on Wednesday that the athletic big man has added some bulk to his lanky frame, something that will surely help him when facing more physical opponents in Rio.
At Rio 2016, China will play in Group A against Australia, two-time defending champions United States, Venezuela and two teams that win FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments.
FIBA
