Patience required

Gong's emphasis on a smooth transition has been reflected in the team's first training camp lineup during his reign, featuring a mix of established figures including Yang Liwei and Huang Sijing, and young prospects such as Zhang Ziyu. Overseas-based players Li Yueru and Deng Yuting are also on the list.

Gong said that the principle of combining veteran, mid-career and younger players was established at the very beginning of the team building.

"Many veteran players are already coaches, and their understanding of the game is more accurate than the younger athletes. The communication between athletes is also more direct and easier to accept," he remarked.

For Gong, young players have decent individual abilities, but their biggest problem is a lack of overall tactical nous.

"Basketball is a team sport that requires mutual connection and assistance," he said. "It is not about one person solving problems. Therefore, it is necessary to constantly talk and practice, and combine well."

He said the game of women's basketball is developing rapidly, with increasingly fiercer competition, faster transition speed and more accurate outside shooting. In terms of technique and physical fitness, there is a big gap in China compared with the world's powerhouses.

Gong admitted it poses a "headache-inducing issue" to balance the pursuit of better results and smoothly completing the transition.

"In a team sport, reaching such a tacit understanding (among players) requires adjustment, which takes time," he concluded.

Xinhua