Zhang’s towering impact lifts China to Asian Games basketball bronze
The 19-year-old centre helped China defeat Chinese Taipei 77-64 in the women’s third-place game in Nagoya. Her coach said the 2.2-metre player could become “invincible” as her profile grows after impressing Caitlin Clark at the Women’s World Cup.
China’s women’s basketball team secured bronze at the Asian Games on Saturday, beating Chinese Taipei 77-64 in the third-place game in Nagoya. Teenager Zhang Ziyu played a leading role in the victory, using her height to make a major impact for the Chinese side.
At 19, Zhang stands 2.2 metres tall, or 7 feet 3 inches. Her coach forecast that she could eventually become “invincible,” praising the potential of a player whose stature already sets her apart on the court.
Zhang is taller than Shaquille O’Neal, the former NBA star and one of the sport’s most famous centres. In the Asian Games bronze-medal match, she put that physical advantage to work as China overcame Chinese Taipei by 13 points.
The result gave China a place on the women’s basketball podium in Nagoya. The third-place contest was the tournament’s bronze-medal game, with both teams seeking to finish their Asian Games campaigns with a win.
Zhang’s role in the victory comes amid growing attention around her performances. In recent weeks, she has drawn notice beyond China, including at the Women’s World Cup in Germany, where American star Caitlin Clark was impressed by the teenager.
The World Cup appearance has helped raise Zhang’s profile internationally, while her performance in Nagoya demonstrated her value in a high-stakes game for China. Her age and extraordinary height have made her a distinctive prospect, and her coach’s prediction points to hopes for further development.
China’s bronze adds a significant result to its women’s basketball campaign, while Zhang’s emergence gives the team a young player to build around. The victory over Chinese Taipei closed the tournament for both sides, with China leaving Nagoya as the third-place finisher.
