Yao giving kids a boost

In an indoor court at Shanghai's Yuanshen Basketball Park, 13-year-old Tian Yuke and a group of other children were practicing sliding, dribbling and defending, coached by former NBA point guard Gary Payton.

Although icon Yao Ming was looking on, the children actually showed no timidity at all - they even had the 7-foot-6 former NBA All-Star pass them the ball for close-in shots.

"I believe my daughter learns a lot from attending this camp," said Tian's mother, after they traveled thousands of kilometers from Yunnan province. "As long as she can harvest joy, I would like offer her the opportunity."