Yao Ming vows to support China players after online abuse, despite calling them slackers after Asian Games failure
- Chinese Basketball Association chief says criticism of players after Asian Games failure has gone too far
- Ming made his comments at Chinese basketball Hall of Fame event in Beijing
Chinese basketball great Yao Ming says that criticism of the men’s national team has gone too far after some players were abused online following a series of disappointing results.
Basketball is hugely popular in China, but the team has consistently failed to live up to high expectations, with the latest letdown a loss to the Philippines in the semi-finals of the Asian Games on home soil last month.
China beat Taiwan to win bronze but the campaign was regarded as a failure and came weeks after they finished 29th of 32 teams at the World Cup, missing out on next year’s Paris Olympics.
Fan anger has failed to dissipate, and national players have been targeted online in recent weeks, including Zhang Zhenlin of Liaoning Flying Leopards.
“Here I represent the association to make a statement,” Yao, an eight-time NBA All-Star and now president of the Chinese Basketball Association, said at a Chinese basketball Hall of Fame event in Beijing on Thursday.
“No matter if we play well or badly on the basketball court, we will face up to the result,” state media quoted him as saying.
