Representative image of boys playing basketball and a suitcase (inset).
Credit: iStock Photos
A Chinese basketball player was suspended after he was accused of sneaking his girlfriend into his dormitory using a suitcase.
According to a report by the South China Morning Post, on January 8 the Guangzhou Loong Lions punished Zhang Xingliang (20).
The club from China's Guangdong province said that Zhang had broken and disobeyed the team's management rules.
According to SCMP's report which quoted another Chinese publication, a member of the Chinese Basketball Association, the club also said that Zhang did not handle his personal affairs suitably.
It is said that Zhang's girlfriend, reportedly a struggling arts student, was studying English in the dormitory the whole night.
According to a report by SCMP, Zhang's girlfriend had earlier posted some pictures of the inside premises of the dormitory as well as herself all curled up to fit inside the suitcase.
The incident came to light a day prior to when the club lost a match to Qingdao Eagles.
Zhang played for 25 minutes in the match scoring 5 points, making 3 turnovers effecting 2 rebounds.
According to the publication's report, the club said, "Following the communication among the club management, coaches and Zhang Xingliang, Zhang realised that he should set a higher requirement for himself as a young player."
It said, "He feels sorry for the negative impact caused by the incident and pledges to improve himself from all aspects."
Zhang had become a first-tier player for the club in 2023.
His girlfriend has now deleted the pictures she shared earlier.
An official anonymously said that the pictures shared by Zhang's girlfriend were taken in August 2024 when she had gone to the dormitory to help her boyfriend pack his clothes.
According to SCMP, curious about Zhang's suitcase, his girlfriend fitted herself in it and asked him to click a picture of her which she shared online in November.