Limp exit rocks China's rebuild to foundations

Pathetic losing effort against Venezuela underlines national squad's challenges

Instead of contenders, Team China proved to be faint-hearted pretenders at the FIBA World Cup.

The host's ignominious elimination following Wednesday's 72-59 loss to Venezuela is refocusing criticism on the nation's stagnant player development and poor league competition - and leaves Team China in the same vacuous limbo as the perennially underachieving national soccer squad.