Chinese basketball icon and Hall of Famer Ma Qingsheng died on November 7, 2026, at the age of 95, according to an official obituary published by the Chinese Basketball Association.
Obituary and Early Life of the Basketball Pioneer
Born in Puning, Guangdong, in 1931, Ma joined the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army in 1952 to fight in the Korean War before embarking on a trailblazing sporting career. He joined the Shenyang Military Region basketball team in 1955 and earned selection to the national team in 1957, quickly establishing himself among the nation’s inaugural class of elite athletes recognized as national sports masters. Records show he transferred to the Bayi men’s basketball team in 1960, where he won six national Class A league titles as a player and earned the nickname “Ma the Quick Hand” for his exceptional speed on the court. In 1962, he scored 18 points to lead his squad to a victory over the Soviet Red Star team.
Ma Guides Bayi and National Team to Championships
After retiring from playing in 1965, Ma transitioned to the sidelines and took over as head coach of the Bayi men’s team in 1973, guiding the club to two National Games titles and five national league championships. He assumed head coaching duties for the Chinese national men’s basketball team in 1979, directing the squad to a gold medal at the 10th Asian Basketball Championship. That same year, his national team secured two victories against the United States, though geopolitical tensions subsequently kept China from participating in the Olympic Games on two occasions. During his decades on the bench, Ma developed several star players, including Muzhitu and Kuang Lubin, before leading the Bayi club to an Asian regional title at the World Club Championship in 1981. He later coached the Shougang, Guangzhou Military Region, Bayi, and Air Force squads following his departure from the national program in the 1980s.
Legacy in the Chinese Basketball Hall of Fame
The Chinese Basketball Association stated that Ma’s passing is a profound loss for the country’s athletic community, noting his decades of service as a player, mentor, and strategist. Recognition of his contributions grew in later decades when he received the Outstanding Contribution Award for New China Basketball in 1999. The governing body enshrined him in the Chinese Basketball Hall of Fame as an outstanding coach in 2024, cementing his status as a foundational figure in the development of the sport nationwide.
