<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-08-04/China-remain-hopeful-of-reaching-women-s-basketball-quarters-in-Paris-1vMWY7NCXNS/img/9effab374ea046f0943d19e840c7b5e9/9effab374ea046f0943d19e840c7b5e9.jpeg' alt='Li Meng (L) of China drives inside during a women's basketball group stage game against Puerto Rico at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, August 3, 2024. /CFP'
China beat Puerto Rico 80-58 in its final game in Group A at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics on Saturday, securing the team’s first win and keeping alive its hopes of advancing to the quarterfinals.
Five Chinese players scored in double digits, led by 18 points from Li Meng. Despite only making four of 14 shots, her aggressiveness off the dribble also earned eight free throws and she sank seven of those attempts.
Li Yueru attacked with strong efficiency in the paint and contributed 14 points while sinking 75 percent of her shots from the field.
Saturday’s victory enabled China to finish third in the group behind Spain and Serbia, who beat China in the team’s first two games.
A total of 12 teams are competing in the women’s basketball event at Paris 2024, divided into three groups. The top two teams from each group and the two best-performing third-place teams will advance to the quarterfinals.
China currently have a better record and statistics than the other two third-place teams, Australia from Group B and Belgium from Group C. Australia will play France and Belgium will face Japan on Sunday. The results of those two games will decide which two third-place teams reach the knockout phase.
