On May 12, 2023, a significant milestone in women’s basketball was achieved with the unveiling of a dedicated trophy for the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup champions. This new trophy will become a permanent feature, awarded to the winners of the prestigious tournament starting in 2025.
The unveiling ceremony took place at the Shenzhen Sports Centre, which is set to host the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025 from July 13 to 20. The event saw attendance from prominent basketball figures in China, including Mr. Hagop Khajirian, the FIBA Executive Director for Asia, who emphasized the trophy’s representation of the progress made by women’s national teams across the continent.
“The trophy being unveiled today highlights the significant progress made by women’s national teams from Asia in recent years,” said Khajirian.
The trophy integrates elements that symbolize the diverse cultures and beliefs of various Asian countries, bringing a unique design to life. Khajirian noted that each champion team will be able to relate to the trophy in a personal way, reinforcing its significance to the entire women’s basketball community in Asia.
“This trophy is also a tribute to the entire women’s basketball community in Asia. The Trophy celebrates women’s basketball in Asia,” he said.
Xu Lan, Secretary General of the Chinese Basketball Association and a member of the FIBA Asia Board, expressed optimism for the upcoming tournament, stating that the unveiling serves as a fresh start for enhancing the stories within basketball.
“With the unveiling of the Trophy, the stage is set for an exciting FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025,” said Xu.
As the tournament approaches, Zhou Tianlong, Division Chief of the Sports Industry Development Department at the Shenzhen Municipality, spoke about the commitment to maintaining international standards for a world-class event experience. He invited global basketball fans to witness not only the thrilling matches but also to enjoy the charm of Shenzhen.
“We will adhere to international standards of excellence to ensure seamless event operations and deliver a world-class experience for global audiences,” he added.
The ceremony also saw the announcement of former FIBA Hall of Famers Miao Lijie from China and Yuko Oga from Japan as the ambassadors for the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025, further enhancing the event’s profile in the international basketball community.
