Yao not to be pressured over recovery

BEIJING (Reuters) – Injured Yao Ming will not be pressured
by China’s basketball officials to rush back into the national
team, Yao’s management has said.

A possible six-month recuperation period for Yao’s broken
foot — sustained during an NBA match earlier in the month —
has put in doubt the Houston Rockets center’s fitness for the
world championships in September.

Friday’s Shanghai Morning Post quoted Zhang Mingji,
spokesman for Team Yao, as saying the Chinese Basketball
Association had promised adequate time for the player’s full
recovery.

Yao, who underwent surgery last week, will return from the
United States by mid-June, Zhang said. Traditional Chinese
medicine may be used to aid his recovery.