Off Track ..... Yao says China has narrowed gap to top

China's Yao Ming was limping slightly and clearly flustered after enduring a game full of Lithuanian double and triple teams.

The Houston Rockets center said he was nevertheless pleased that China has established itself as one of the world's top basketball teams over the last four years - an astonishing advance that mirrors the country's growing economic might.

"We were only able to get a spot in the top eight with the level we're at now but at least we have closed the gap to the top," Yao said. "That's thanks to all the matches we've played against European teams and to our own progress in recent years."