Chinese men's basketball team coach Robert Donewald, tasked with a defense of the Asian Games gold, didn't show a bit of stress on Sunday.

"It's an honor to play here, to play in front of our fans," said the American coach as fans asked him to autograph their ticket stubs during the game between Mongolia and Turkmenistan at Guangti Gymnasium.

"Where else would you want to be? We are playing in front of our fans and that is great. This is awesome," he said.

Donewald was hired as head coach of the Chinese men's basketball team, who are defending champions in Guangzhou, in last spring.

Donewald's roster is in transition. Sharpshooter Zhu Fangyu is coming off an injury that forced him to miss the world championship in Turkey and 33-year-old veteran Wang Zhizhi has his best years behind him.

"We are on target for London," the coach said. "I like where we are as a team. We are a hungry team. we are right where we want to be."

China's first game will be on Tuesday, meeting with Mongolia which beat Turkmenistan 90-85 Sunday.

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