The Chinese basketball star Yao Ming says his foot injury will not keep him from getting ready for and playing in the Beijing Olympics.

Yao Ming attends the press conference on Friday, April 4, 2008. The "Little Giant" says he is confident of an appearance at the Beijing Games.

The Houston Rockets center made this promise at a Beijing press conference on Friday, reports Sohu.com.

The "Little Giant" arrived in Beijing on Thursday evening to receive herbal therapy for the injury to his left foot that has forced him to the sidelines for more than one month.

Yao says that conventional treatments are well on track and the herbal therapy will help to reduce swelling.

After the therapy, Yao will fly back to the US and then report to the national team in early July, one month before the Olympic Games. He says there is only a slim chance that he will be sidelined for the Olympics.

Yao was diagnosed with a stress fracture of the left foot on February 27th and underwent surgery in early March.

(CRI April 5, 2008)