Chinese forward Zhou Peng out of Basketball World Cup for metatarsal fracture

BEIJING - Chinese basketball team announced Wednesday that Zhou Peng has withdrawn from the FIBA World Cup due to a left foot metatarsal fracture.

The announcement says: "Zhou felt a sudden discomfort with his left foot in yesterday's training. Diagnosis of the fracture in his left foot was confirmed. Zhou's left foot is in plaster, so he will not take part in the 2019 FIBA World Cup. Further examination and treatment will be conducted to see how long the recovery will take."

"Zhou has been working hard since the training. He has been the role model of the team. It is a great pity that he had withdrawn from the World Cup. Chinese men's basketball will remain confident and go all out to train in our best form for the coming game."

The small forward's departure doubled the challenge for China's attack line. Before Zhou's withdrawal, Ding Yanyuhang, the two-time CBA MVP, pulled out of the team's training camp.

China will play its first FIBA World Cup game against Cote d'Ivoire on August 31.