Asiad a slam-dunk for half-court heroes

The professional incarnation of 3x3 basketball has managed to preserve the lively spirit of the event's streetball roots — something which is readily apparent when watching the pulsating half-court action at the Hangzhou Asian Games.

Deqing Geographic Information Park, which proudly holds the distinction of being the world's first permanent 3x3 basketball venue, provides spectators with a close-up view of the format's rapid back-and-forth transitions, fleet-footed layups and thunderous slam-dunks.

Booming music and boisterous cheers and boos from the crowd further enhance the electric atmosphere, while an MC gets to work on the mic during intermissions to add yet more street-inspired flavor.

The noise at the venue reached a crescendo on Sunday as the host beat Mongolia 21-12 in the women's final. With the match falling on China's National Day, there was an outpouring of patriotic pride in the stands, with fans standing up to wave the national flag and sing along to a rendition of I Love You, China.

It looked as if Team China would face a tough challenge to prevail when Mongolia's Ariuntsetseg Bat-Erdene drained a long-range effort to score two points early on. However, the Mongolians were unable to maintain any offensive rhythm, and, with the game tied at 6-6, Wan Jiyuan and Chen Mingling scored consecutive points in the paint to help China pull away.

China was helped by sloppy defending as Mongolia conceded seven fouls to gift the home team free-throw opportunities.

With 1 minute and 39 seconds left, Wan made two of those free throws to secure the host's victory.

"We won this precious gold medal on National Day, which is a special honor for us. I am really delighted that my parents came to cheer for me," said Wan, who scored a game-high nine points.

"The audience has been cheering for us since the first game, and we could hear them throughout, which is why we were able to achieve such results," she added.

Wan paid tribute to the silver medalists, saying: "Mongolia's tactics were smarter than the other teams. They were also pretty skillful, particularly their shooting, although they were maybe a little weak in defense."

Mongolia's Bat-Erdene admitted it was a "really tough game", adding: "We made a few mistakes, but we are happy to have made it to the final and claim the silver medal."

In recent years, the Chinese women have consistently performed at a world-class level.

They clinched gold at the Asian Games in Jakarta in 2018, which marked the sport's Asiad debut.

In 2021, they secured bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, and last year emerged as champions at the FIBA Women's Asia Cup.

"At the last Asian Games, our older sisters fought hard and won the gold medal. We must strive to continue this legacy and not let it falter on our watch," said Wan.

"In Asia, our height and physique are advantages, so we have to leverage our strengths," Chen added.

Looking ahead to next year's Paris Olympics, Chen said: "It's all about aiming for improved results and making a breakthrough at the Games."