Chinese basketball eyes qualifications for Paris Olympics

China's basketball governing body, the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), will make qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games its top priority for 2023, according to the association's general assembly held on Tuesday in Qingdao, East China's Shandong Province.

"China's men's and women's basketball teams will fight for their berths at the Paris Olympic Games this year. China's men's and women's 3x3 teams will also try to qualify for the Paris Olympics via their world rankings in November. As to the Hangzhou Asian Games, China will endeavor to win all four of the basketball titles up for grabs," Yao Ming, president of the CBA, said at the meeting.

Yao placed emphasis on China's men's team, which is set to participate in the Basketball World Cup in August. The Asian team that finishes first in the World Cup rankings will have its tickets punched for the Paris Olympic Games. The other Asian teams at the World Cup include Japan, Jordan, Iran, Lebanon and the Philippines. China is joined by South Sudan, Serbia and Puerto Rico in Group B of the World Cup. The top two teams from each group will advance to the second round. The bottom two teams will then play two classification games to determine the rankings.

Su Qun, one of the best-known basketball commentators in China, told the Global Times that setting the goal of qualifying for Paris Olympic Games is well within expectations.

"China's men's team should aim at advancing to the second round in the World Cup. That will make our qualification for the Olympics more convincing," said Su.

Meanwhile, the association has resolved to crack down on passive competition, match-fixing, gambling, on-court violence and anti-doping violations in an effort to restore a healthy basketball environment and promote the development of Chinese basketball.

In April, CBA league teams the Shanghai Sharks and Jiangsu Dragons were disqualified from the 2022-23 season for "being passive in competition" during a CBA playoff game. 

In March, the Xinjiang Flying Tigers made a U-turn on whether to participate in the league following a contract dispute with player Zhou Qi.

"The CBA's reputation has been dented due to recent controversies. These moves are set to put the CBA back on track. It is also in line with the strategy initiated by the General Administration of Sport to revitalize China's soccer, basketball and volleyball," Su noted.

Yao also revealed that the CBA is planning a regional competition with the East Asia Basketball Association, hoping to bring clubs from China, Japan, South Korea and Mongolia on board.