Translation of Yao article where he says he’ll play in the Worlds
July 24th, 2006by John
Raymond has translated a July 21st interview of Yao from reporter Zou Yang who works for tom.com in China. In this interview we get more detail on Yao’s statement late last week where he said he’s confident he can play in the World Championships in Tokyo in late August.
The Chinese national team has started their second European tour (of exhibition matches and tournaments), and once again, Yao Ming was left behind to continue his rehabilitation. So is there a chance for Yao Ming to play in the World Championships in Japan now that he has been absent for the European tour?
“Do I look like a guy with a foot injury?” Yao Ming responded. “I never worried too much about my injury. So you need not worry about me. All the problems are non-issues now.”
So ever since he broke his foot on April 11th, this is the first time that Yao Ming has so optimistically affirmed his injury condition. As for whether he can really play in the World Championships, Yao Ming said, barring any accidents, there is a 99% probability that he can play in the World Championships.
From the day of his injury where he couldn’t even walk, to this day when he talked with full confidence about returning to the court, it has a lot to do with the unceasing efforts Yao Ming has put into his rehabilitation resulting for a quick recovery. Under the help of his personal trainer Anthony Falsone and the support from the national team, Yao Ming has invested unimaginative will and persistence that no average athletes can do. After watching Yao Ming in his rehabilitation training, Head Coach, Jonas Kazlauskas just marveled: “Yao Ming just practices diligently and strenuously. He has to be the most professional basketball player I have ever seen.“
To the Chinese national team which has been waiting anxiously for his return, this quick recovery of Yao Ming is without doubt the best news. Actually, the day before yesterday, Erik Zhang Mingji (Team Yao leader and Yao Ming’s cousin and manager) had already indicated that Yao Ming will definitely play in the World Championships, and the probability for him to play in the exhibition match with the USA national team (on August 7 in Guangzhou) is close to 80 percent. In fact, from the very beginning of Yao Ming’s injury to now, the national team had full confidence in Yao Ming’s recovery and return, and had never given up its drills and practice of game plan/strategies deploying Yao Ming as the go-to-guy core player.
Now since Da Zhi’s (i.e. Wang Zhizhi‘s) reinstatement (to the national team) and the quick recovery of Yao Ming, the long-anticipated core team strategy of a Yao-Wang duo combination has now a chance to be implemented. With such a formidable interior combination on offense and defense, Jonas Kazlauskas does not need to worry too much about lack of firepower on the national team anymore.
The quick recovery of Yao Ming is not only advantageous to the Chinese national team. Similarly, it is most welcome news for the Houston Rockets. The major reason why the Houston Rockets missed making the playoffs last season had been largely due to injuries and sicknesses. Now after a long summer, both Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady have fully recovered. Barring any other major injuries and sicknesses, the Houston Rockets, particularly after major post-season personnel changes/player trades, will remain a strong team in the Southwest Division and even the Western Conference in the new season.
In regards to his newly-added teammates, the one that impressed Yao Ming most is Shane Battier traded from the Memphis Grizzlies. “He is a very all-rounded player. He can play on Position 3, as well as Position 4.” Yao Ming said. “He is also a very solid defensive player. I experienced alot of hardships playing against him at the Memphis Grizzlies in the past. He may not be scoring too many points (on offense), but he definitely silently helps his team in his own way.”
As to his own goal for the new season, Yao Ming said without slightest hesitation: “There is always just one goal for me, and that is the Championships. Regardless of whether I play in CBA or NBA or in any other competitions, my goal has always been the Championship.”
For the original article written in Chinese, click here.