Counting down to his retirement, Wen seeks to defend his legacy
The premier may be 70 and about to step down, but with a game of basketball he tries to show he'll always be a man of the people
Who is the most athletic Chinese politician of our time?
Political pundits, who often struggle to assess party officials' prowess in the political arena, appear to have reached consensus that Premier Wen Jiabao could easily best any of his contemporaries on the field of play.
Just months away from his expected retirement, the 70-year-old Wen made headlines yesterday after showing off his basketball skills in a game with former national team players during the "golden week" holiday.
The state-run splashed news of the spry Wen's unusual athleticism and good sportsmanship on its front page, along with a photo of the premier - dressed in shorts and high-top trainers - attempting a lay-up.
Analysts saw the October 3 event, which comes just weeks before Wen and other top party leaders are expected to hand most top party offices to a new generation, as an attempt by Wen to polish his populist image and cement his legacy.
While Wen has received praise for his efforts to appear approachable and progressive, analysts say his mixed record on economic issues and failure to deliver on political reform has undermined his credibility.
