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Zheng Haixia, 6 feet and 8 inches tall, is by far the best women basketball player inChina, leading the Chinese national team to several championships.

Zheng was born in the city ofTuochenginCentral China'sHenanProvinceonMarch 7, 1967. She started to practice basketball at the age of 12 and was selected by the Wuhan Army club team one year later. In 1983, she entered the national team.

In 1983, Zheng make her debut at the World Basketball Championships and finished 3^rd. The following year, she and her teammates finished 1^stin Asian Junior Basketball Championships and 2^ndin the 23^rdOlympic Games.

In 1986, she led the Chinese team to fifth in the 10^thWorld Championships, 1^stin Asian Games, 1^stin World University Games and 2^ndin World Championships.

In 1992, she inspired her teammates to win the silver in the Barcelona Olympics. The following year, she won the East Asian Games, the World University Games and National Games.

In 1994, she claimed the titles in the Asian Championships and ranked 2^ndin the World Championships, being named MVP of the event by averaging 26.4 points, 13.1 rebounds and shooting 83.5% from the field.

One year later, she and her teammates retained their title in the 16^thAsian Championships. In 1995, Zheng helpedChinato win the Asian Championships again.

In 1996, she made her fourth Olympic appearance inBarcelona, averaging 18.1 points, 9 rebounds. One year later, she won the 8^thNational Games with the PLA team.

After that event, she retired from the national team and went to play with the Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA in theUnited States. At the end of 1998, she returned toChinaand began to coach the PLA women's team.