In the world of sports, athletes, without exception, go through up and downs, on and beyond the court. While some excel at their field, receiving a standing ovation from the fans, others fail to meet expectations. China Daily's website takes a look back at both in China during last week.

HOT:

Yao Ming

Yao Ming became an undergraduate majoring in economics at the Shanghai-based Jiaotong University on Monday, adding student to his already swelling career list of player, philanthropist, businessman, basketball team owner, and color commentator. The Chinese basketball legend remains one of the country's top stars, showing incredible talent in various territories. But hey, Yao, can you handle this?

 

Chinese woman's volleyball team and their assistant coach

From Nov 4 to Nov 19, the Chinese woman's volleyball team will be in Japan for the Women's World Cup. Winning the top 3 will secure a berth at the London Olympics. The Chinese girls overcame a one-set deficit, and racked up a thrilling win 3-2 against their old Japanese rivals. The focus, however, tilted after Saori Kimura, Japan's volleyball rising star revealed she had a crush on one of China's assistant coaches.

 

JR Smith

If a gorgeous triple double (33 points 10 rebounds 10 assists) in JR Smith's debut game with Zhejiang Chouzhou team of isn't enough to get you off your seat, I would just add that he accomplished this in just two quarters. All of a sudden we realize his previous "triple double for each game" declaration is less of brag. In another Chinese basketball preseason game, he hit a game-winning shot with 1.2 second remaining, continuing his astonishing performance in China. Based on his contract with the team, JR Smith, along with several other players in the NBA exodus caused by the lockout this summer, will play in China for at least one year, which leaves Chinese fans much to expect from their own league.

 

NOT:

Li Na

Don't get us wrong, Li Na sits at Number 5 according to WTA year-end ranking released Monday, that's the highest for Chinese singles tennis players ever, not to mention fetching the Grand Slam in Roland Garros in June. But the arguably China's most characteristic athlete went through a roller coaster experience in the second half, by being embarrassed by small potatoes. Fans showed no surprise at all as the sluggish egoist was thrashed by other vigorous opponents at the WTA Final in Istanbul at late October. But what makes Li special is she always keeps things in perspective, including the latest proof that she uploaded photos of her playing with her husband on her microblog.

 

Zhuang Xiaoyan

Nineteen years after Zhuang won gold in the women's 72kg category judo at the Barcelona Olympic Games in 1992, she has become more known for her fury. The 42-year-old happened to find a gold beverage can that was awarded by Jianlibao Group, China's then biggest soft drink company, for her achievement, which turned out to be a fake, costing less than 100 yuan. She turned to media for "justice" after private confrontation against the company went no avail.

 

Liu Zige

Liu Zige, the 200m butterfly gold medalist at the 2008 Olympics, admitted she hasn't been in her best shape for a time, after only finishing fourth in the women's 100 meter butterfly at the FINA Swimming World Cup at the Water Cube on Tuesday. The gold medalist, turning 23 in March, flew to the US for eight weeks of training after a disappointing Shanghai World Championships in July, when she settled for a bronze medal in the 200m butterfly.

 

Wang Meng

Wang Meng was spotted training with Heilongjiang provincial short track team in Harbin Monday. The tainted Winter Olympic champion returned from training in Canada to her motherland in an attempt to reunite with the national short track team, where she was expelled in August for a notorious brawl with the team manager. The ill-tempered skater will probably hit the track again at the sport's national championships starting later this month in Changchun, an opportunity she is desperate to use to show the authorities that she is ready again. But our tip for Wang is redemption is a long process, and it is finished not just on the track.