BENGALURU (FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2017) - China and DPR Korea may be different in many ways, but they both have the same goal of reaching the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2018.

Both China and DPR Korea are in the same group for the FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2017 in Bengaluru, India, and here is all you need to know about these two East Asia contenders.

Group Games (local time):
Sunday 23 July
DPR Korea v Chinese Taipei - 15:30
China v New Zealand - 17:45

Monday 24 July
DPR Korea v New Zealand - 13:15
China v Chinese Taipei - 17:45

Tuesday 25 July
DPR Korea v China - 17:45

CHINA
2015: 2nd place
Best Finish: Champions (11 times)
How they qualified: Automatically as Semifinalists in 2015

One to watch: Gao Song
- At just 23 years old, Gao was already China's best player in 2015. The 1.90m forward/center was second both in scoring and rebounding for China with averages of 10.7 points and 6.4 boards per game. Her best game was a double-double performance against India where she put up 18 points and 12 rebounds. Now that she's 27, Gao is at her physical prime, and she should continue to play a big role for the Chinese juggernaut.

Outlook: The entry of Australia endangers China's hopes of making it to the Final for the fourth time in the last five editions of the competition, but coach Xu Limin is confident they are ready to compete fiercely. Aside from Gao Song, veterans like Chen Xiaojia, Shao Ting and Sun Mengran are reliable, while rising star Li Yueru is also a player who can turn some heads. China are always formidable with their size and skill, and that won't change this year.

DPR OF KOREA
2015: 8th place - Qualified for Division A
Best Finish: 6th place (1990, 1999, 2005)
How they qualified: Qualifying round winners at the FIBA Asia Women's Championship 2015

One to watch: Ro SukYong
- 24-year-old Ro proved to be one of the most productive players in 2015. She is just 1.81m, but she played center for DPR Korea two years ago, notching a double-double average of 16.0 points and 11.5 rebounds per game. Of course, that's also because she played heavy minutes - 32.0 per contest to be exact. She played her best against Kazakhstan, scoring 24 points along with 13 rebounds and an eye-popping 7 steals. She is expected to be among the squad's brightest stars again this year.

Outlook: Though DPR Korea have never broken into the Semi-Finals and have been in and out of Division A, they have always been a gritty, pesky and scrappy bunch. Ro will continue to lead the charge, but alongside her is the prolific Pak HyangJong, who led the entire field in scoring with 19.2 points per game in 2015. They will, however, miss versatile forward Sin HyonOk, who was their third-best offensive player two years ago. DPR Korea will be significant underdogs, but overlooking this explosive team is a gamble no team should take.

FIBA