THIS weekend in Shenzhen, sports fans will be treated to an incredible lineup of soccer, basketball, ice hockey and badminton games. With such a diverse range of sports events, this weekend is sure to be promising in captivating fans of all kinds. Booking: WeChat miniprogram “大麥” FIBA Solidarity Cup Five national teams bound for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 will be facing off against each other in the FIBA Solidarity Cup in Shenzhen this weekend as part of their preparations for the world cup beginning Aug. 25. The teams involved in the FIBA Solidarity Cup are China, Brazil, Italy, New Zealand and Serbia. Sunday’s match between China and Serbia is mostly anticipated since it will be NBA Minnesota Timberwolves player Kyle Anderson’s first match in China after he completed a naturalization procedure and acquired Chinese citizenship last month. Shenzhen is the home city of Anderson’s mother’s Chinese family. The father of Anderson’s grandmother on his maternal side was a native of Longgang District and moved to Jamaica around the 1920s. This means Anderson, now known as Li Kaier in China, is one-eighth Chinese. Italy vs. Brazil: 3 p.m., Aug. 20 Tickets: 280-880 yuan China vs. Serbia: 7:30 p.m., Aug. 20 Tickets: 980-2,880 yuan New Zealand vs. Italy: 5:30 p.m., Aug. 21 Serbia vs. Brazil: 8 p.m., Aug. 21 Tickets: 280-880 yuan (Tickets are valid for the two Aug. 21 matches) Venue: Bao’an Sports Center, Bao’an District (寶安體育中心) Metro: Line 1 to Bao’an Stadium Station (寶體站), Exit A Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship Shenzhen will be hosting the 2023 (IIHF) Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship Division I Group A, a prestigious international event, from Sunday through Aug. 26. Approximately 350 players from China, Denmark, Norway, Slovakia, Austria and the Netherlands will compete in the tournament consisting of 15 matches. The teams will play a single-round-robin tournament on five game days. The top two teams will be promoted to the top level and the bottom team will be relegated to Division I Group B. Most players on the 23-member Chinese team are from the Shenzhen Kunlun Red Star Ice Hockey Club. It sent 16 ice hockey players to the national team in 2022. Time: 1 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 8 p.m., Aug. 20-21, 23-24, 26 Tickets: 88-558 yuan Venue: Shenzhen Universiade Center, Longgang District (深圳大運中心) Metro: Line 16 to Universiade Center Station (大運中心站), Exit C Chinese Super League Soccer fans can watch Shenzhen F.C.’s home match against Nantong Zhiyun this Saturday night. Shenzhen F.C. currently sits at the bottom of the Chinese Super League (CSL) table while Nantong Zhiyun holds the second-to-last spot. The upcoming match between these two teams carries vital significance for Shenzhen, as it will determine whether it can avoid relegation to the lower tier. The CSL is the highest tier of professional soccer in China. Two teams finishing in the last two places at the end of the season will be automatically relegated to China League One, and the top two teams from the second-tier, China League One, at the end of the season will be promoted to the CSL. Shenzhen F.C.’s upcoming CSL home matches are scheduled to be held Aug. 25, Sept. 24, 29 and Nov. 4. Time: 7:35 p.m., Aug. 19 Tickets: 80-200 yuan Venue: Bao’an Sports Center, Bao’an District (寶安體育中心) Metro: Line 1 to Bao’an Stadium Station (寶體站), Exit A SZ Longhua Intl. Men’s Basketball Challenger Basketball fans can look forward to a thrilling match between the Shenzhen Leopards Basketball Team and the New Zealand Basketball Team. Time: 7:30 p.m., Aug. 18 Ticket: 200-280 yuan Venue: Longhua Culture and Sports Center, Longhua District (龍華文體中心) Metro: Line 4 to Qinghu Station (清湖站), Exit D Chinese Badminton Invitation Tournament The Yonex Cup Chinese Badminton Invitation Tournament organized by the Chinese Badminton Association will gather eight teams from Shenzhen, Fujian, Zhejiang, Shandong, Tianjin and Jiangxi. Time: 8:30 p.m., Aug. 19 (1st round); 4:30 p.m., Aug. 19 (2nd round); 9 a.m., Aug. 20 (3rd round); 4:30 p.m., Aug. 20 (semifinal); 4:30 p.m., Aug. 21 (final) Tickets: 36-68 yuan Venue: Pingshan Sports Center, Pingshan District (坪山體育中心) Metro: Line 14 to Jinlong Station (錦龍站), Exit A (Cao Zhen) | 