Li Xin stands out in a man's world

05/05/1998

THE honour of being the first woman to coach an Asian Basketball
Confederation (ABC) men's side also came with the title for China Hanwei's
Li Xin, not to mention the most valuable coach award.
So how did she handle the men?
"I'm an aggressive person and they respect me as a coach. We get along
fine bacause we have the same goal - to win the title," said the 29-year-
old Li Xin before the final against China Regal last Saturday.
One would have to see to believe the way she handled the team. When
Hanwei slackened, Li Xin was always there to motivate the players from the
sidelines, sometimes shouting at the top of her voice.
Life was not always a bed of roses for the former national player, who
represented China at the Barcelona Olympics and won silver for her
country.
After 10 years with the national side and honoured as the Best Guard on
several occassions, Li Xin decided to retire. And when she was approached
to coach Hanwei, a Division Two team in China, she grabbed the opportunity
which she saw as a challenge.
"I only took over the team two months before the ABC tournament and what
you see today is a totally different team."
"(Foreign players) Erik Wilson and Erik Dortck only joined us two days
before the championship and the first two matches were a nightmare.
Gradually we started playing as a team and winning matches."
Li Xin is no stranger to Malaysia having been here four times before to
assist her father, Li Jin Chew, who used to coach China's junior women's
team and who is now coaching in Sabah.
When Hanwei star Ma Jian, was asked how it feels to be coached by a
woman, he replied: "She is as good as any man who has coached me.
Actually, as the tournament progressed, we even forgot that she was a
woman!"
(END)