(Central News Agency reporter Li Jianzhong, Taipei, 11th) Sports Minister Li Yang attended the press conference today to launch the Presidential Cup National Sports Event and competed in a basketball shooting game against Wu Xiaofan, a player who was injured and withdrew from last year's 3x3 basketball tournament. The result was a crushing defeat, prompting Li to joke, 'Once is enough.'

The 2nd Presidential Cup National Sports Event will again feature a street dance competition and a 3x3 basketball tournament, both expanded in scale. The total prize money is NT$5.9 million, and the finals will be held at Ketagalan Boulevard in front of the Presidential Office.

After his speech at the press conference, Li Yang immediately issued a challenge to Wu Xiaofan, who had withdrawn from last year's 3x3 basketball tournament due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. In the 30-second shooting game, Li Yang suffered a defeat. When the crowd urged him to a rematch, he joked, 'Once is enough.'

Wu Xiaofan, who is also a model for Catwalk, competed last year for the 'Breeze Plastic Surgery' team. She tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee during the quarterfinals and was taken to the hospital for treatment.

Speaking to the media today, Wu laughed and said, 'The Minister is not a basketball specialist, so you can't compare us that way. If he challenged me to badminton, I would be the one getting crushed.'

Wu noted that playing on Ketagalan Boulevard last year was a fantastic experience, especially with the Presidential Office as a backdrop. '3x3 is originally a street sport, and it's very suitable for promoting mass participation,' she said.

Wu revealed that today marks exactly six months since her surgery. 'I have been very diligent with my rehabilitation and treatment, so I can now play on the court, but the intensity still can't be too high. I hope that by the time the Presidential Cup starts this year, I can compete at 100%,' she said. (Editor: Zhang Yajing) 1150611

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  • Source: CNA (Central News Agency)
  • Category: Event