China’s ‘invincible’ Zhang Ziyu helps women’s basketball team claim bronze at Asian Games

Zhang Ziyu played a starring role to drag China to women’s basketball bronze at the Asian Games on Saturday, with her coach predicting the teenager standing 2.2 metres (7-foot-3) will one day be “invincible”.

The 19-year-old is already taller than NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal and she made full use of her advantage as China beat Chinese Taipei 77-64 in the third-place match in Nagoya.

Zhang has made a name for herself in recent weeks, impressing American superstar Caitlin Clark at the Women’s World Cup in Germany.

She has made her significant height advantage count at the Asian Games, with Philippines head coach Javier Alvarez Garcia calling her “amazing” and tipping her to become the world’s best player.

Zhang said she had “a lot to work on” despite scoring 14 points against Chinese Taipei.