Zhang Ziyu towers over World Cup

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A giant on the court

Standing at an extraordinary 7-foot-3, 19-year-old Zhang Ziyu is set to become the centre of attention when China take on the United States in their opening fixture at the FIBA Women's World Cup.

The teenager's remarkable stature and developing skillset have made her one of the most talked-about players heading into the tournament, and all eyes will be on her when she steps onto the court against the Americans.

Passport mishap sidelines teammate

China will be without 6-7 centre Li Yueru, who revealed on social media that she had lost her passport and would be unable to travel for the competition - a blow to the squad's depth in the frontcourt.

WNBA connection

Han Xu, a 6-10 forward who plays for the New York Liberty in the WNBA, knows the US squad well. She has spoken enthusiastically about lining up alongside Zhang, praising the youngster's potential ahead of what will be her debut on the world stage.

Fitness questions linger

There are some concerns over Zhang's readiness. She missed a warm-up match against France and had limited training time before the tournament began. US guard Sonia Citron, however, insisted her team would be fully prepared to deal with Zhang's threat regardless of her fitness status.