”Perfect” start at home for Han Xu

XI’AN (China) – Han Xu was, in a word, “perfect” in her first game of the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024 in Xi’An.

In just 17:27 minutes of action, the 2.05M (6’9″) center scored 21 points to go with 6 rebounds. More impressively, however, was the efficiency with which she was able to record those points – knocking down all of her nine field goal attempts.

It was a performance that continued to emphasize Han’s dominance and uniqueness, as three of her field-goal attempts were from beyond the three-point arc. It is rare for a player of her size to be a legitimate threat from the perimeter and anchor the paint – with 4 blocked shots – but that’s what Han brought to the floor for China in their emphatic win.

The 24-year-old center has had perfect game in her career with the senior national team in a FIBA competition, coincidentally also against New Zealand back in 2019 at the FIBA Women’s Olympic Pre-Qualifying Asian Tournament 2019. However, that was achieved on only two field-goal attempts.

Han Xu’s Top 5 Field-Goal Shooting Games 

There’s a reason that she was ranked 3rd in the WOQTs Smart Player Power Rankings, as published prior to the competition’s commencement. Consider this opening performance a confirmation.

First game down, in perfection. With two games to go, can she go perfect the whole way with France and Puerto Rico left on the schedule as opponents?

FIBA