| Chinese basketball star Yao Ming said in Houston on Tuesday that he will fly back to China this week for a charitable fund-raising tour.
In an interview with Xinhua, the 2.26-meter, All-Star center said seven NBA players will join him in the tour to raise fund for the Yao Ming Foundation. They include Baron Davis, Brandon Jennings, Hasheem Thabeet, DaJuan Summers, Amir Johnson, and a pair of Yao's teammates -- Aaron Brooks and Chase Budinger.
They will play two matches, one with China's national basketball team in Beijing, and the other with the Shanghai Sharks, a team owned by Yao, Yao said.
"The matches are for charity purpose so we will not care much about who win and who lose," he said.
But Yao, who sat out last season following reconstructive foot surgery, added that his physical condition does not allow him to play.
The tour will also include fund-raising banquets and other charitable events.
The Yao Ming Foundation was established in 2008 in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in China's Sichuan Province.
The Foundation has committed to rebuilding six schools in the quake-stricken area. Yao said three schools have been completed, and the remaining three are to be completed by September.
Yao said that besides helping build schools, his foundation may also provide scholarship for students and help youth develop their sports talent.
Talking about his NBA career, Yao said he picked up his player option for next season, the last year of his five-year contract with the Houston Rockets.
"What I want most now is to return to the court soon," he said.
Yao's former teammate Steven Francis recently said he would likely to play basketball in China and prefer the Shanghai Sharks.
"Chinese fans have good impression of him, and I, personally, have good impression of him also," Yao said, adding that it would be good for the Sharks if Francis could join the team.
However, Yao stressed that it depends on the coach of the Sharks when it comes to how to form and manage a team.
(Xinhua News Agency July 14, 2010) | 
