Yao Ming has stepped down as president of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) and vice president Guo Zhenming was appointed the new chief, it was announced on Thursday.

Chinese Basketball Association president Yao Ming is seen after the women's basketball group phase group A match between China and Serbia at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Lille, France, on July 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo)

The former Houston Rockets All-Star center was first elected as CBA president in February 2017 and later became chairman of the board of CBA Company. Yao was re-elected as CBA chief in December 2022, marking a tenure of over seven years with both achievements and setbacks for Chinese basketball.

Under his leadership, the women's national team achieved remarkable success, winning gold medals at two consecutive Asian Games in Jakarta and Hangzhou, and matching its best result at the FIBA Women's World Cup with a runner-up finish in 2022. However, the men's national team faced challenges, failing to qualify for both the Tokyo and Paris Olympics and falling short of the top 16 at the FIBA World Cup in 2019 and 2023.

In an exclusive interview with Xinhua, Yao Ming discussed his valuable tenure as president of CBA, noting both achievements and disappointments. He cited his decision to step down now as a "strategic move" to allow for a smooth transition for the next leadership, ensuring that they can effectively manage a complete Olympic cycle.

Yao affirmed that his passion for basketball remains strong and was optimistic about contributing to basketball in different capacities in the future. He highlighted the importance of various aspects in developing the sport in China, including international communication, community service, youth training and industry research.

"Whether in the past, present, or future, basketball has always been a passion of mine. I hope everyone will continue to support Chinese basketball with me in the future," said Yao.

Significant pioneering works have been done in the nearly eight-year span, including promoting and popularizing basketball, building basketball culture and honor systems, integrating sports with education, establishing salary caps for the CBA league, providing player insurance and standardizing youth competition.

Yao's successor Guo, who has been working with CBA since 2022, praised Yao's efforts during the CBA reform since 2017.

Guo acknowledged the significant pressure after taking over the helm of CBA from Yao. "On one hand, Yao's unique influence and ability to integrate resources within the basketball community are unparalleled," he said. "On the other hand, when we compare our situation to the national initiatives aimed at revitalizing the goal of establishing China as a sports powerhouse by 2035, we still have a considerable way to go."

Guo emphasized that with a core basketball population of 76 million and a strong foundation, there are high expectations based on past successes, presenting both pressure and challenges ahead.

Looking ahead, Guo expressed strong confidence in the future of Chinese basketball. "We aim to build upon the foundation laid by Yao, encouraging collaboration to create a vibrant environment that deepens basketball reform," he stated, emphasizing the importance of "ensuring that kids who love basketball can enjoy the sport, while also nurturing talented players to thrive."

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