BROOME - Retired Chinese NBA star Yao Ming hailed a basketball game held near an iconic beach in Western Australia a happy marriage of basketball and beach, which combined sports and tourism.

Played on a purpose-built court overlooking the beach, the first Cable Beach Invitational was launched on Friday in Broome northwest of Western Australia. The game hosted Shanghai Sharks, Singapore Slinger, Indonesian national team and Perth Wildcats.

On the sideline of the game, Yao, the owner of Shanghai Sharks, told Xinhua that he believed it was a good idea to play a game alongside the beach.

"It marks a wonderful combination, with which people may appreciate the game while enjoying their leisure time amid the beauty of nature without traveling much," he said.

Yao also said the beach invitational made a creative platform for multicultural exchange among people from different nations.

"Sports have been playing a key role in cultural exchange and I am convinced event of this like will boost people-to-people exchange between China and Australia," ?he said.

As to his retirement life, Yao said he was planning to continue higher education in Shanghai Jiaotong University and tried to have a transformation from his previous career as a basketball player to a student.

"I am in a stage of adjustment and trying to figure out how to make good use of my abundant time," Yao said. "Study in college serves two purposes for me. Firstly, I may learn some new knowledge, some basic knowledge in particular, which I believe is quite important. Secondly, by study, I will calm down properly and adapt to the new life."

Shanghai Sharks have been beaten by Perth Wildcats on Saturday 66-23 in a match of the beach invitational, after a 45-41 victory against Indonesian team on Friday.

Yao said the Shanghai Sharks was not in its best at this moment, and it remained some way to go before it prepared well for the new season.