Houston Rockets center Yao Ming, who recently underwent surgery on his left foot in the United States will return to China in mid-June, according to the China Basketball Management Center (CBMC).

 

"Yao is quite better now and he will depart for China mid-June to join the national team's training session prior to China's friendly against Italy on the 23rd of this month," CBMC deputy director Hu Jia says.

 

According to Hu, Yao will resume training with former Rockets' strength and conditioning coach Anthony Falsone, who resigned last month.

 

Previous reports indicated the 2.29-m (7ft 6 inch) basketball ace would stay in America this summer to relax.

 

Yao won't return to play for China in the NBA off-season, according to a news report from the Associated Press.

 

"The first thing about my summer is I don't want any scheduling," Yao told AP. "I don't want to wake up and think about what I need to do."

 

Yao's left foot was fractured after another player stepped on it when the Rockets played against the Utah Jazz this April.

 

(China Daily June 3, 2006)