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Yao Ming: I'm proud of my teammates
By Cai Shanshan
Updated: 2008-08-11 16:43
The Yao-led Chinese men's basketball team was beaten by the US "Dream Team 8" by 70-101 Sunday night, setting a record for the “smallest score distance” or (smallest margin) in China - US Olympic basketball competition history.
Yao Ming was interviewed after the match with CCTV.
Reporter: What do you think of the team's performance?
Yao: I think we did very well, though we lost the match. And I feel very proud of my teammates. Right before the contest, all of the players rounded in a circle, putting our hands one on top of another and gave each other the courage by that. We were determined to shoulder the team up.
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China's Yao Ming shoots the men's preliminary group B basketball match at the Olympic basketball arena during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 10, 2008. [sohu.com]
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Reporter: You shook your fist after you shot a three-pointer? Why you did this?
Yao: It was a way of releasing the pressure. We face pressure in the Olympics, but as a player in the national team, we must find a way to overcome it.
Reporter: What are you going to do when you face other teams in the group?
Yao: What we should do is to play our best in every match, rather than thinking too much. We must be strong when facing our opponents, who are all elites.
Reporter: Say something to the audience.
Yao: I would like to say 'thank you' for all your support. The Olympics is a grand get-together of humanity. We will try our best all the way along.
(Collected and translated by Cai Shanshan)