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Chinese women's basketball team getting ready for Tokyo 2020

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Shao Ting (R), captain of the Chinese national women's basketball team, goes for a lay-up during the pre-Olympic warm-up game against the men's youth team of Zhejiang Province in Suzhou, China, on July 9, 2021. Zhejiang win at 93-81. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

China's national women's basketball team will move to Beijing next week for their last training camp before the Tokyo Olympic Games.

The squad, which held a public training session in east China's city Suzhou on Friday, is scheduled to play a series of games against the Beijing Sports University men's team before departing for Tokyo.

"Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, playing warm-up games with European or American teams was impossible," said Chinese head coach Xu Limin

Han Xu (2nd L), center of the Chinese national women's basketball team, in a public training session in Suzhou, China, on July 9, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

China will kick off their Olympic campaign against Puerto Rico on July 27, with Australia and Belgium also featuring in Group C.

With the 12-team competition consisting of three groups, the top two sides from each group and the two best third-placed teams will advance to the quarterfinals.

"Australia, the runners-up in the world, is our strongest opponent. Our main rivals are Puerto Rico and Belgium. We must beat Puerto Rico in the group opener," Xu said.

"No matter who we are to encounter on the floor, we will try to deliver all our potential and demonstrate our characteristics and strength as a team," he noted.

Xu Limin (R), head coach of the Chinese national women's basketball team, briefing reporters of his team's preparation for Tokyo 2020 after the public training session in Suzhou, China, on July 9, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

Lack of experience might be an issue for Xu's side, as nine of the 12 players will make their first appearance in the Olympic arena in Tokyo.

"I will endeavor to share my experience with all teammates. Once setting foot on the court, we should be concentrated on every moment and fight for each goal," said captain Shao Ting, who competed in Rio 2016.

The Chinese team will travel to Tokyo on July 19. The Olympic women's basketball tournament will run from July 26 to August 8.

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