China hopes that superstar Houston Rockets centre Yao Ming will make a speedy recovery and will not force him to play for the national basketball team, a top sports official said Thursday.

• 一位来自中国体育高层的官员表示，中国方面希望休斯敦火箭的全明星中锋姚明能迅速得以痊愈，但不会强迫他参加男篮国家队的比赛。