China's Yao Ming is recovering well from a broken foot and could be fit to play in August's world championships, a spokesman for the player's management team said on Wednesday.

Houston Rockets centre Yao Ming leaves the locker room after his team's game against the Utah Jazz. Yao broke his left foot in the first quarter. [AP]

Zhang Mingji of "Team Yao" told the China Radio International (CRI) Web site that the 7ft-6in Houston Rockets center would start rehabilitation soon and could be training again in eight weeks.

"I believe there is still a possibility for Yao to participate in the world championships," Zhang said.

Yao broke his left foot in NBA action for the Rockets against the Utah Jazz on April 11 and after surgery four days later, faced up to six months out of the game.

He would return to China in June, Zhang said, two months before the start of the world championships in Japan.

The Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) confirmed on Wednesday that Yao's compatriot Yi Jianlian would not be joining him in the NBA -- in the short term at least -- after withdrawing from the 2006 draft.

The forward's team Guangdong Hongyuan informed the CBA of his decision, according to a Xinhua news agency report.

"It's not a good time for Yi to play in NBA," basketball administration vice president Hu Jiashi said.

Center Tang Zhengdong will, however, train with the Los Angeles Lakers this week and has a chance to impress scouts ahead of the draft.

The 22-year-old had been cleared by his Jiangsu Nangang club and the CBA to train with the Lakers for a week starting from April 27, the Beijing Morning Post said.

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