{
  "id": 6424383,
  "title": "Zhang Ziyu, the 2.23-meter World Cup sensation",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/zhang-ziyu-the-2-23-meter-world-cup-sensation",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-09T13:50:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "El Pais English",
    "slug": "el-pais-english",
    "url": "https://english.elpais.com/sports/2026-09-09/zhang-ziyu-the-223-meter-world-cup-sensation.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Zhang Ziyu, a 19-year-old basketball sensation, has captured attention worldwide for her extraordinary height of 2.23 meters, making her the tallest professional women's basketball player in history. The towering athlete is currently representing China's national team at the World Cup in Berlin, where she has become the main attraction. Despite her impressive stature, Zhang remains a young girl at heart, as evidenced by her youthful face, playful interactions with teammates, and a hobby of crocheting handicrafts that she gifts to friends. Her journey to stardom has been marked by a longing for her childhood, which she reminisces about fondly, recalling the comfort of her bed filled with rag dolls.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}