Zhou Qi Out with High Fever, Beijing's 24 Million Contract at Risk?
On January 12th, Beijing time, Zhou Qi was forced to rest due to a high fever of 37.6°C, putting his 24 million yuan, four-year contract with Beijing in jeopardy. Netizens are expressing their frustration, calling him a disappointment.
Beijing's men's basketball team is currently struggling. In a recent match, they suffered a crushing defeat against Zhejiang. Why did they lose? Zhou Qi unexpectedly announced his absence due to a fever before the game, as he has been frequently unwell this year, either with a cold or a fever. He has already missed three games due to illness, not including those he missed due to injury this season. How can the team compete without him?
Prior to this, Zhou Qi had not fully recovered from a cold but insisted on returning for the Liaoning game. After playing against Liaoning, he developed a fever again. For a professional athlete, the frequency of illness seems unusually high. Beijing relies heavily on Zhou Qi, but he is often sidelined due to injuries or illnesses, doing little work while earning a substantial salary. With Beijing investing 24 million yuan in a large contract, it seems like money down the drain if he cannot perform.
After the game, Beijing's coach, Xu Limin, expressed his helplessness, stating that Zhou Qi's temperature was measured at 37.6°C in the locker room, so they decided to protect him by letting him rest instead of allowing him to cheer from the sidelines. Zhou Qi wanted to support his teammates from the sidelines, but Xu advised him to rest early.
Xu Limin appeared helpless, as Zhou Qi has been plagued by various injuries and illnesses, such as back problems and colds. His recurring fevers prevent him from playing in crucial matches. At only 28 years old, Zhou Qi gives the impression of an athlete nearing the end of his career.
His actions have drawn intense criticism from netizens who question his professionalism, suggesting that he lacks the passion for the sport that top domestic players should possess, comparable to NBA standards.
In the NBA, players with fevers as high as 40°C still take the court, and even Michael Jordan played in the finals with a fever of 38.5°C. Yet, Zhou Qi opts out at 37.6°C, showing a lack of love for basketball and the desire to win. Treating basketball solely as a job and focusing on earnings makes it difficult to achieve success.
Netizens ask, "Can players like you compete against strong foreign teams and formidable opponents on the court?" Zhou Qi's behavior continues to spark controversy, especially since many fans buy tickets to see him play, only to find him frequently sidelined due to illness. If this continues, Beijing's investment in him may indeed be wasted. At 28, he is already facing challenges; by 30, his performance could decline even further.