Yao takes his time to recover
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-06-27 07:37
Chinese star center Yao Ming is encouraged to take his time in recuperation
from a foot injury, said a Chinese senior basketball official on Monday.
NBA Rocket centre Yao
Ming returned his home in Shanghai, China on Wednesday
evening.[xinhuanet.com] |
"We will by no means
urge him to play the World Championship in Japan," said Li Yuanwei, Commissioner
of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).
"He should be fully recovered before considering coming back for the World
Championship," Li added. "We do not want him to take any risk, he can take his
time in recuperation."
Yao Ming, who was doing great in his recovery from a foot surgery taken in
April, will have a good chance to make his second trip to the World
Championship, according to Eric Zhang, leader of Team Yao.
"He has a good chance to recover in time," said Zhang. "Yao himself wanted
very much to play (in the Worlds), but the CBA officials told him not to hurry."
Yao, who was recuperating in his home town Shanghai, will join the training
camp of the Chinese national team in Beijing in a few days.
The Chinese Basketball Association has recently called on Yao's fellow
basketball players in China to learn from him for his professionalism.
"Yao Ming is the most internationally influential athlete in the history of
Chinese sports, but he was not born to be successful," reads an article released
by the CBA. "What he has achieved was based on his hard work, wisdom and
professionalism."
Yao, a four-time NBA All-Star, averaged 17.5 points and 8.8 rebounds in his
first four seasons with the Houston Rockets.
The 2006 men's basketball world championship will be held in Japan from
August 19 to September 3.
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