Zhang Mingji, the captain of Yao's team told a local paper that Yao Ming was "almost certain" to participate the warm-up game against the United States and the Stankovic Continental Champions Cup for China, which indicates he is highly possible to play the World Championships.

The China and Rockets center did not showup for an opening training session of Team China Monday in Beijing. Instead, he was taking physical practices with his rehabilitation group.

According to Yao's team, the super star will also miss Team China's European tour to continue nursing his injured foot.

However Yao Ming expressed his willingness to play a match as soon as possible. He told the Shanghai-based Oriental Morning Post that he was ¡°eager to play against the dream team¡±, as it's an important warm-up for the World Championships. Later Zhang confirmed Yao's participation in the match during a telephone interview.

The friendly match between China and United States will be played in Guangzhou, capital of the southern Guangdong province neighboring HongKong in early August. It will be followed by the Stankovic Cup in Nanjing prior to the World Champions in Japan.

(CRI July 18, 2006)