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'Your motherland needs you' China pleads 'Comrade Wang' to play for national teamPosted: Thursday August 22, 2002 5:28 AM
BEIJING (AP) -- Alternately pleading and cajoling, the Chinese Basketball Association has written to Wang Zhizhi, urging the center who played for the Dallas Mavericks last season to return from the United States and compete for China's national team. "Returning to train with the national squad and representing the motherland in international competition is a glorious and sacred duty," said the letter, dated July 26 and published in the China Sports Daily. "Now is precisely the time that your motherland needs you," said the letter, addressed to "Comrade Wang Zhizhi." His fate with the national team has been uncertain since May when he angered the association by refusing to report for training. Wang, the NBA's first Chinese player, has stayed in the United States since finishing last season with the Mavericks, where he averaged 5.6 points and 2.0 rebounds in 51 games. He is now an unrestricted free agent. Wang has said that he chose to stay in the United States to work on his game against better competition, and he has questioned whether he will be allowed to represent his country. However, the association said Wang was still wanted and that his name had been included on the roster for the World Basketball Championship, to be held in Indianapolis Aug. 29-Sept. 8. Although the letter mentioned no specific punishment, it contained a veiled threat that measures could be taken. No penalties will be leveled "as long as you return with all haste," the letter said. "The national team needs you. (We) believe you'll make the correct choice," it added. China and the United States were meeting in an exhibition match at Oakland, California later Thursday. The Chinese team will be led by Yao Ming, the 2.26-meter (7-foot-5) center who was chosen first overall by the Houston Rockets in the NBA draft last June.
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