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By Hoang An  February 22, 2025 | 01:13 am PT
An injured Guo Ailun in a hospital in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China on Feb. 20, 2025. Photo taken from Baidu
Guo Ailun, a standout combo guard for the Guangzhou Loong Lions, was deeply disappointed by a lack of apology from his teammate after a training incident left him temporarily blinded.
Guo, a player with eight CBA All-Star selections during his time at Liaoning Feibao, joined Guangzhou in 2024. On Feb. 17, during a practice session, he was accidentally poked in the right eye by a teammate. The injury was severe as Guo fell to the floor, bleeding heavily and panicking, fearing he had lost his sight, the South China Morning Post reported.
The 31-year-old was rushed to hospital, where doctors performed surgery that required 40 stitches to his eye. He sustained a torn conjunctiva and damage to the underlying tissue. While the doctors believe his vision can be restored, no clear timeline has been provided on how long. However, they indicated Guo has a high chance of returning to basketball.
In the days following the incident, Guo expressed his frustration on social media. "I went through immense pain, but you acted as if nothing happened," he said. "You even claimed you didn’t realize it was you until the team showed the video evidence the next day. Only then did you send a message saying you might have been responsible. I’ve watched the video a hundred times and have no doubt it was you."
Guo added: "We’re all adults, and we should be accountable for our actions. You left me in this condition. I don’t know if this injury will affect my career, yet I’ve still not received an apology."
Though Guo has not publicly identified the teammate who caused the injury, speculation has run rampant among fans and online commentators. A 21-year-old player even shut down his social media accounts after facing widespread accusations.
The injury and its aftermath have become a major topic of discussion within the Chinese basketball community. While Guo has refrained from naming the individual, he has openly shared his disappointment.
"I chose not to reveal who it was to protect that person," Guo stated. "But instead of showing remorse, they acted as though it’s normal for me to protect them. I feel deeply let down. If I were in their position, I would have immediately apologized and done everything possible to help the injured person."
