CHINA: BASKETBALL- Hundreds of Chinese fans gather in Beijing to watch NBA tournament

Record ID: 873446

  • Title: CHINA: BASKETBALL- Hundreds of Chinese fans gather in Beijing to watch NBA tournament
  • Date: 10th November 2007
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) GU YU, BASKETBALL FAN, SAYING: "Chinese players have already made it into the NBA, we have already crossed that fence. After this, if more Chinese players make it into NBA teams, their level will get better and better."
  • Embargoed: 25th November 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • City:
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAC5YTY7WIZRLJLJ9HQGN4S3TRP
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Excited Chinese fans watch their basketball heroes Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian pitted against each other in an NBA match.
    Hundreds of Chinese NBA fans gathered on Saturday (November 10) to watch live coverage of the Houston Rockets and Milwaukee Bucks basketball match. Supporters crowded into a Beijing bar, serving soft drinks in deference to the early hour, to cheer on the teams' Chinese players.
    In this case, the fans don't much mind who wins, its the players taking part that count. Chinese basketball fans were celebating the sight of two of their basketball giants, Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian, battling it out in an NBA match. Basketball is one of China's most popular sports and Chinese fans are thrilled to see their players in the NBA league.

    "I think that these two teams should make Chinese people very happy and give them hope. Chinese fans, apart from watching them in the NBA have another dream, to see Yao Ming and Yi Jianling playing together for China at next years Olympics."
    Houston Rockets and Milwaukee Bucks have both signed Chinese players, Yao Ming for Houston Rockets and Yi Jianlian, a newcomer to NBA, moved to the Milwaukee Bucks earlier this year. Chinese basketball fans see this as a promising sign that their basketball standard has reached an international level.

    "Chinese players have now made it into the NBA, we have already crossed that fence. After this, if more Chinese players make it into NBA teams, our level will get better and better," said Gu Yu.
    Yao Ming has moved into American basketball several years ago and is idolised as a hero in his native Shanghai, Yi Jianlian hails from Guangdong province in southern China.
    The American tradition of cheerleading has accompanied basketball into China and a team of cheerleaders were on hand to provide half time entertainment.
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