Star center Yao Ming returned to China's national basketball team Friday morning for his first training session with his teammates after a foot injury in April.

Yao arrived at the court one hour before team training began and worked on his shooting alone before being grouped with his teammates.

Yao went on to run a few laps on the track after team training.

The super star says he would be satisfied if China can reach the second stage after group competitions at the upcoming World Championships.

He says China will face tough challenges at the Worlds since the team lack both the experience and high-level competitions.

The men's basketball team will fly to Guangzhou this Sunday to face the United States in a friendly. The match will be followed by the Stankovic Cup in Nanjing prior to the world championships in Japan.

(CRI August 5, 2006)