IN BRIEF (Page 22)

Basketball

Yao rejoins national team after long absence

Houston Rockets' center Yao Ming joined China's national team training camp in Beijing yesterday, bringing him closer to his first appearance with the national team since the World Championships in Japan last August.

Yao took part in a training session with teammates for the first time since coming back from the United States on June 22.

"He is healthy and I am happy to see him train with the team," said Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) vice-president Hu Jiashi.

Hampered by a shoulder injury, Yao did not participate in the NBA Summer League, in which China only managed one win during the two-week trip.

Yao has yet to confirm his participation in the Stankovic Cup that takes place in June 28 in Guangzhou.

Chinese club may block Yi's Milwaukee move

The Milwaukee Bucks' campaign to secure the services of reluctant power forward Yi Jianlian has suffered a blow after the player's Chinese club said they would block his move to the United States.

Seven-foot (2.13-meter) Yi, taken by Milwaukee with the sixth selection in the NBA draft last month, would "definitely not" play for Milwaukee, yesterday's Beijing News quoted Guangdong Tigers chief, Chen Haitao, as saying.

"This is not - as media reports have said - because Milwaukee, as a city with very few Chinese people, is not good for Yi's commercial development," Chen said. "Rather we want to find a team suitable for Yi's growth. That's the root of the problem."

Chen expressed concern that Yi would have trouble getting game time at the Bucks.

"The national team and the Olympic Games are now our key considerations... If (Yi) goes to a team where he can't compete, that would be being irresponsible to the national team," Chen said.

Gymnastics

Injured Olympic champion Li a doubt for worlds

Olympic champion gymnast Li Xiaopeng is a doubt for September's world championships in Germany, media reports said on Tuesday.

Team manager Zhang Peiwen told the Beijing News that he was concerned Li would not be fit enough for the team competition.

The 27-year-old - parallel bars and team competition gold medalist at Sydney in 2000 - has struggled with a toe fracture since March.

"He is fit for parallel bars, but not for the other events which need more strength in the feet," Zhang said.

(China Daily 07/18/2007 page22)