Yao's foot surgery declared a success

Chinese basketball fans heaved a sigh of relief yesterday after Yao Ming successfully underwent foot surgery at a Texas hospital.

The surgery to fix a stress fracture in his left foot has dominated headlines in Chinese newspapers - and Yao took a solid step closer to taking part in the Beijing Games this summer, reviving the basketball team's Olympic dream.

"I am very relieved that everything went well with my surgery today," Yao said. "I look forward to getting better and starting my physical rehab as soon as the doctors say I can.