China cautious on 'lucky' draw

China Basketball Association vice director Hu Jiashi sent a warning to the national team after its seemingly lucky draw for the 2010 World Championships in Turkey.

China have been drawn in Group C with Greece, the runners-up at the last championships, hosts Turkey, Russia, Puerto Rico and Cote d'Ivoire. The top four will advance to the next round. It is considered a lucky draw for China as Greece are regarded as the weakest of the top four seeds while the other four are not regarded as world heavyweights.

"I don't share the opinion of the media, which considers it a great draw," Hu said. "At the 1996 Atlanta Games and 2004 Athens Games we were in the so-called 'group of death' but we advanced. However, when we have been in some 'good positions' we have lost," he said.