CHN – Yao’s broken foot not healing so far

HOUSTON (2010 FIBA World Championship) - The hairline fracture in China national team center Yao Ming's left foot has not healed yet, the Houston Rockets have revealed.

The club says there is no timetable to return for Yao.

Yao felt pain in the foot during a May 8 play-off defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers and x-rays showed shortly after that he had a broken foot.

Doctors decided the best course of treatment at the time was for Yao to stop all physical training and to use a walking boot to immobilize the foot and promote healing.

The 7ft 6in giant is remaining optimistic.

“Yao is not experiencing any pain in his left foot, however, the results from the CT and bone scans we performed over the past two days indicate that the hairline fracture has not responded to the degree that we expected,” said Houston's team physician, Dr Tom Clanton.

“We will review a variety of treatment options before proceeding.”

Yao, who is back home in China, is remaining positive.

"I think I've been in harder situations before, much harder than this one," he said.

"I believe that I can get through this one, too."

Yao will not play for China this summer when they host the FIBA Asia Championship.

The national team is hoping he will be fully fit next summer to play at the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey, if the country qualifies for the event.

FIBA