Injured Yao Ming joined the Chinese basketball squad's training camp in Guangzhou at the weekend, raising hopes that he might be fit for this month's World Championships in Japan.

The 7 foot, 6 inch Houston Rockets centre, his country's best player, broke his left foot in NBA action in April and returned to China last month after surgery.

Chinese Basketball Association general secretary Hu Jiashi says Yao is in good condition and his recovery is better than expected.

Menk Bateer, another Chinese player with NBA experience, was reported as saying he would not be at the world championship, starting August 19.

China will warm up for Japan in a three-team tournament in the south-eastern city of Guangzhou also featuring the US and Brazil on August 7.

Article courtesy of fiba.com