Yao Ming hopes to play in 2010 World Championships

This is according to a representative for Yao Ming, Zhang Mingji, who recently revealed the wish of the Houston Rockets centre to play for the Chinese national team.

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However, the 29-year-old has been sidelined for the past five months and will likely miss the entire NBA 2009-10 season.

Therefore Yao will need medical permission from the Houston Rockets before he can play the tournament – something the NBA club will not be fond of considering Yao’s injuries the last few years.

China is in group C of the World Basketball Championships, along with Greece, Ivory Coast, Puerto Rico, Russia, and host Turkey. China’s chances of getting to the next round would increase greatly with the addition of Yao, the star and face of the team.