Peking University, July 29: While Michael Jordan may not be participating in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, we have our own "She-Jordan" with Team China this time round!
This legend is none other than Wang Lili, part of Team China for 3x3 women's basketball. The team made history by clinching the first ever Olympic medal for China in 3x3 basketball.
Her teammates (Zhang Zhiting, Wan Jiyuan, and Yang Shuyu) and her have won the bronze medal of the 3x3 women's basketball at Tokyo Olympics after defeating France 16-14 on 28th July. Congratulations!
She completed her undergraduate studies at the PKU School of Journalism and Communication and continued studying at PKU, graduating with a master's degree in 2016.
Wang was the previous Captain of PKU women basketball team and helped PKU attain our first Women's Chinese University Basketball Association (CUBA) league title. With her stellar results of 18 points, seven rebounds, five assists and five steals per game, it is no wonder that Wang was named the most valuable player (MVP). She was also named an Elite Athlete of National Class by the General Administration of Sport of China in 2018.
With this in mind, it is little wonder that she is dubbed "She-Jordan", an especially befitting title given her recent accomplishments at the Tokyo Olympics. Is it any surprise that she's number 23?
Professional Career
She began her professional career after she was selected for the Beijing Shougang women's basketball team, then-champion of the China Women's Basketball League (WCBA). In 2016, she was scouted by Xinjiang women's basketball coach Zhan Shuping and this is where she truly harnessed her leadership potential.
Even without much professional experience, she proved to be highly adept at defense and her stellar results made her a multiple WCBA All-Star.
In her first year of leading the newly-formed team, Xinjiang clinched second place and this progress was stunning to many WCBA watchers and a testament to Wang's leadership abilities.
Early Years
Wang Lili was born in 1992 in the eastern-most provincial county seat of Jiamusi in Heilongjiang Province. She has been playing basketball since the age of seven and unsurprisingly, most of her opponents were boys. "When the boys didn't have enough players for a match, I would be on the court within minutes," Wang remarked. Of course, her childhood passion didn't stop here.
After she was recruited to play basketball at a distant high school, her father transferred her back home as he couldn't bear leaving his daughter there. However, Wang Lili was determined to continue along this path and she eventually convinced her father with the help of a relative. She is one who's absolutely determined and you can see this grit in her. "I love how Jordan concentrated on the game and the fire in his eyes - 'I will defeat you,'" she said.
She was already a star player in the Harbin No. 5 Middle School with her great shooting accuracy, powerful fast breaks and solid defense, and was scouted by head coach of PKU women's basketball team Ma Zongqing to play for PKU.
And as they say, the rest..is history.
Watch this space, She-Jordan is the next.
Writer: Ng Joong Hwee
Editor: Amanda Hu
Photo: CCTV News, PKU Department of PE
Desinger: Pu Hairui
