Yao Ming looks beyond Olympic warm-ups
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-07-09 14:13

Nursing an injured toe, Yao Ming is unlikely to play in China's Olympic warm-up game against Canada tonight in the opener of a four-nation tournament in Beijing.

The NBA All-star is having his mind fixed on Athens already.

"Our prime target is the Olympics. These warm-up games would only serve as nutritional food for us to grow up. Don't take them too seriously."

Head coach Del Harris will probably have to field other centers throught the whole series. He understands how important Yao Ming's fitness will be for his mission to help China enter the quarterfinals of the Athens Olympics.

Harris will leave his position and return to the Dallas Mavericks after the Summer Games.

Meanwhile, China's women's basketball team has just finished its own four-nation tourney. Despite a late victory over Australia, China finished in bottom place with losses to two other teams. Australia took the title.

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