Ginobili 'shocked' to learn of injury

Argentine basketball player Emanuel Ginobili said on Friday he was optimistic about recovering from an injury in time to compete in the Basketball World Cup.

Organized by the International Basketball Federation, this year's championship will be hosted by Spain from Aug 30 to Sept 14.

According to the state-run Telam news agency, Ginobli said he was "shocked" to learn last week he had a stress fracture in his right shinbone that could jeopardize his participation, but he also said: "I'm an optimist, I think the injury will heal and that four weeks is enough time."

Ginobili, who plays for the San Antonio Spurs, this year's NBA champions, returned to Argentina on Friday, where he addressed a media conference in Buenos Aires.

"I want to play in the World Cup, at the age of nearly 37 ... If I don't play this year, it's unlikely I'll be back," he said, referring to the championship.

The next FIBA World Cup won't be until 2019, since the games are being rescheduled to take place every five years to avoid coinciding with the FIFA soccer championship.

Ginobili, considered one of the best international players in the NBA, and one of only two players to have won an Olympic gold medal, a NBA championship and a Euroleague title, said he won't play unless he is healthy enough to do so.

"If I'm not healthy, I'm not going to play. If I'm not recovered by July 25, I don't think I'll be able to play in the World Cup," he said.

Argentina forms part of the World Cup's Group B, meaning it has to play Puerto Rico, Croatia, the Philippines, Senegal and Greece in the group phase.

Group A consists of host Spain, Brazil, Serbia, France, Iran and Egypt.

Argentina's national basketball team has ranked among the event's top five teams in the past three editions, and won gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

(China Daily 07/06/2014 page11)