Published: 15:36, August 31, 2024
China secures historic bronze at FIBA 3x3 basketball U18 World Cup
By Xinhua
China's U18 women's 3x3 basketball team members pose with the national flag after winning the bronze medal match against Germany at the 2024 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup in Debrecen, Hungary, on Aug 30, 2024. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

DEBRECEN, Hungary - China's U18 women's 3x3 basketball team achieved a historic milestone by winning the bronze medal at the 2024 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup here on Friday.

The Chinese squad of Chen Yanping, Li Yuxian, Liu Xiaohan and Wang Jiaxin defeated Germany 21-17 in the bronze medal match, marking China's best performance in the tournament since their debut in 2011.

Chen Yanping (left) of China shoots the ball during the bronze medal match against Germany at the 2024 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup in Debrecen, Hungary, on Aug 30, 2024. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

The U18 World Cup's group stage followed a round-robin format, with each team facing off against the other four teams in their group, and the top two teams from each group advancing to the quarterfinals.

China, placed in Group C, secured convincing victories against Kyrgyzstan and India before losing to Japan in a decisive match for the group's top spot. Uganda, originally in Group C, withdrew from the competition.

Li Yuxian (right) of China runs with the ball during the bronze medal match against Germany at the 2024 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup in Debrecen, Hungary, on Aug 30, 2024. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Entering the knockout stage as the second seed from Group C, China pulled off an impressive 20-16 victory over Group A's top-seeded Ukraine, thanks to their outstanding offense.

In the semifinals, China faced the United States and fell short with a 21-8 loss. After a two-hour break, the Chinese team came back strong with Wang hitting five shots behind the arc to lead China to a 21-17 win over Germany in the bronze medal match, setting a new benchmark for the team in the tournament.

READ MORE: 3X3 basketball: Chinese women's team fails to reach semis

The United States dominated the tournament, winning both the men's and women's championships. Japan's women's team claimed the silver medal, while in the men's competition, Spain and France took home the silver and bronze medals, respectively. Enditem