Zhao Rui: This Asian Cup is a good start, but our goal is much more than that.

Hupu August 19th News: In the 2025 Men's Basketball Team's Asian Cup Final, the Chinese Men's Basketball Team lost to the Australian Men's Basketball Team and won the runner-up. Chinese men's basketball team Zhao Rui accepted an interview with the media after the game.

From not being favored by the outside world before the start of the game to losing to the runner-up in the final 1 point. Talking about the mental journey of this cup, the captain of the Chinese men's basketball team, Zhao Rui, said a heartfelt statement:

"I think compared with the previous one, this summer is actually unforgettable and I am quite impressed. I think it is not easy for us to reach this stage, and it is not easy to play with Australia until the last minute and second. I think there is progress. However, we must be clear about where our goal is, not limited to Asia. I think more goals in the future include the World Cup qualifiers, including the World Cup quota, and finally to strive for the Los Angeles Olympics. I think (the runner-up of the Asian Cup) is a good start, but I hope everyone will be cautious. In China (players) hope to maintain a good state and maintain a good health through the league, like Wang Junjie, including Zeng Fanbo, Cui Yongxi, Yang Hansen and others, these young blood outside must also ensure their condition and maintain good health. They must have enough self-discipline outside because they are actually relatively free outside, so there is a lot of temptation outside. I hope they can keep their focus and do their own things well in the moment. "

Zhao Rui also talked about the young player Wang Junjie: "Just Junjie said, he wants to get those lost games back one by one. Everyone knows that he loves to laugh, but today he has not seen him laugh much. This kid is quite thoughtful and competitive. Don't always see him laugh, but he always thinks a lot. He has bad things and shortcomings. Sometimes he doesn't focus, because he always experiences these things when he is young, but he is at least getting better bit by bit. So I hope that the Chinese men's basketball team will get better and better."