Li Meng, as the champion of China’s women’s basketball team in this Women’s Basketball World Cup. In the Focus match between the group match and the United States women’s basketball, Li Meng showed strong competitiveness and offensive aggressiveness. She got the highest 21 points in the team at that time, and her opponents were all the top players in WNBA. Li Meng started to have a fever women’s basketball before she played in France in the quarter-finals. At that time, she finished the game with illness and won the highest score in the team again. But later, Li Meng had a high fever of 39.4 degrees, and she would wake up crying when she slept at night. Under such physical conditions, Li Meng did not play in the semi-finals and finals due to the protection of players’ health in China women’s basketball.
However, there were some “keyboard heroes” on the internet who attacked Li Meng. Li Meng responded in an exclusive interview with the Beijing Youth Daily reporter: “I am just being myself, these things, I don’t care, they can’t hurt me. I always think that the stronger I am, the less these things hurt me.” Meanwhile, Li Meng said frankly that playing WNBA would be his next goal. The following is the interview content:
Q: Which match impressed you most in this World Cup?
Li Meng: I think the group match against America women’s basketball. The attention of this game is very high, and there are also many Chinese fans on the scene. It is said that 90% of the tickets have been bought by Chinese fans. At the beginning of the game, the whole team was a little nervous. After all, we haven’t played this kind of strong team for a long time, so did I. I didn’t release it slightly at the beginning. In the first half, we were behind, but during the break, we adjusted quickly, and later we showed our due level. In the rhythm of the competition, they also adapted to each other.
It was really exciting to have a chance to fight with the world’s No. 1 team in women’s basketball. Women’s basketball in the United States have strong personal ability, and our team cooperation ability is very strong. We can feel that their physical talent is better. We can only work hard by ourselves. Although their arms are long and their legs are long, technically we can have the opportunity to catch up with them through hard work.
Q: With these WNBA top players, how do you feel on the court?
Li Meng: not bad, that’s all.
Q: I know that three years ago, you once got the contract of WNBA team, but for some reasons, you didn’t succeed. However, after this World Cup, the outside world generally thinks that your ability, technology has the level of playing in WNBA. How do you think that you may play in WNBA in the future?
Li Meng: this is my dream. Through this World Cup, I feel that I am getting closer and closer to it. I proved my ability. I had such an opportunity (to WNBA) before, and now I hope I can seize this opportunity again. I hope to bloom myself on a higher stage, which is very firm.
Q: You finished the quarter-finals with illness, but you didn’t participate in the semi-finals and finals because of fever. Tell me about the situation at that time.
Li Meng: I felt uncomfortable during the morning training before the quarter-finals. Later, the body temperature was measured, which was already more than 38 degrees. The team doctor quickly gave me medicine. But I still had a fever before the game. Later I played this game, but after I finished it, I was completely out of shape. After I finished playing, I felt painful all over. My teammates helped me bring everything back to the hotel. That night, I had a fever of 39.4 degrees, and my whole person was dizzy. I wake up crying every two or three hours when I sleep at night, and I feel very uncomfortable. Later, it did not reach the semi-final and final.
Q: You have done your best for China women’s basketball, but there are still some online keyboard heroes questioning and accusing you. How do you think about this?
Li Meng: I don’t care about these. I can’t guarantee that everyone likes you. I really don’t care about these. I always feel that only the stronger I am, the less these things will hurt you. I am just being myself. We are only responsible for ourselves, and everything is spoken with achievements.
Q: How to evaluate the performance of the World Cup.
Li Meng: I am not a person who likes to rate myself. I have tried my best in this World Cup. There may be some regrets. The reason why they say they are some is that they missed the chance to compete with strong teams in the semi-finals and finals, but there is no regret for others, we have scored the best record in history women’s basketball in China. And if we look forward, there will be the Paris Olympics next. Stay in the mountains without worrying about firewood.
Q: There are many twists and turns in your career. How do you view these?
Li Meng: look at some past experiences, there are indeed many ups and downs, and everyone’s experiences will not be the same. Although my experience is a bit bitter, I walked over step by step, it strengthened my belief.
Q: Can you tell me specifically what belief it is?
Li Meng: I want to develop towards a higher stage.
Q: Is the higher stage WNBA?
Li Meng: Yes. (After this World Cup, Li Meng’s strong ability and manhood technology have made the outside world generally believe that she has the foundation to play WNBA at a higher level. According to the reporter of Beijing Youth Daily, Li Meng’s brokerage team is working to make this happen. Li Meng’s landing on WNBA is getting closer and closer.)