BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Two-time Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league MVP Ding Yanyuhang has withdrawn from the Chinese men's 3x3 national training team after he failed to get into form following his long absence from the professional league due to injury.
With less than one month to go before its first match at the Tokyo Olympic Games, the Chinese team's preparation is entering the final stage.
"Ding has overcome huge difficulties since he was invited into the team, but with the Olympics approaching, his shape cannot meet the requirements of competing in matches, and he has to withdraw from the team," read an announcement from the Chinese 3x3 basketball team.
Ding was awarded as MVP of the CBA league in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 season. After the 2017-18 CBA season, Ding went abroad to play for the Dallas Mavericks before being waived by the NBA club. He hasn't played a single CBA game since then, and missed out on the FIBA World Cup on home soil in 2019 due to injury.
"Thanks to the CBA for inviting me to train with the 3x3 national team. This is an honor and encouragement for me," Ding wrote on Weibo.
"I have learned a lot from this experience. It's a pity that I cannot play the Olympics with the team, but my determination to be back on court has never changed. Best wishes to the team and to achieve good results," he added.
Besides Ding, Guo Hanyu from the Chongming Y&M Club also left the national team on Monday.
Kicking off on July 24, 3x3 basketball will make its Olympic debut in Tokyo. China will compete with Serbia, the Russian Olympic Committee, hosts Japan, Poland, the Netherlands, Latvia and Belgium. Enditem
