Millions invested but no medal as Chinese basketball suffers second worst Asian Games finish

China finished fourth at the Asian Games after losing the bronze match in Nagoya on Sept. 20, falling 70–79 to Iran. It marked China’s second-worst finish in the event’s history, after fifth place at the 2014 Games in Incheon, and drew criticism despite the absence of some top players for other nations. China also missed NBA names such as Yang Hansen, Zhou Qi and Zhao Rui, though it fielded a roster seen as a foundation for a generational transition, including Hu Jinqiu, Wang Junjie, Liao Sanning, Hu Mingxuan and Cui Yongxi. The team had trailed by 40 against host Japan in the semifinals, losing 77–97, and then failed to beat Iran. Attention has now turned to coach Guo Shiqiang, with public frustration extending to budget figures, including around 19.43 million yuan tied to the national team and a 2026 youth-focused allocation for the China Basketball Management Center.