Recruiting in China

BEIJING (Reuters) - Houston Rockets center Yao Ming believes more of his Chinese team mates need to gain experience abroad for the national team to be competitive at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, state media reported on Tuesday.

China finished a disappointing 11th at the world championships in Japan after being knocked out 95-64 by eventual runners-up Greece last week.

Yao, who averaged a tournament-high 25.3 points and virtually carried China into the second round, told state TV that several of his team mates should join more competitive leagues overseas.

"As the 2008 Olympics are drawing near, we should send abroad the likes of Yi Jianlian and Wang Shipeng as soon as possible in a bid to raise our level in the short term," the 7ft 5in NBA All-Star center said.

"Even if our basketballers fail to play as regulars, we still could benefit at least from their training. I played as a substitute 10 minutes per game initially, too. It depends on your will and work."

Yao lamented his team mates' lack of strength and courage after China crashed out of the worlds, and remarked in media reports last week that Chinese basketball was too inward-looking.

But he conceded it was "impossible" for domestic clubs hungry for national success to send key players to foreign leagues, Xinhua news agency reported.

China's basketball officials, concerned that foreign careers might interrupt national duty, have also been reluctant to allow young talent to seek their fortunes in overseas leagues.

Yi Jianlian, touted as China's next Yao Ming and courted by several NBA clubs, declined to enter this year's NBA draft after China Basketball Association (CBA) Director Li Yuanwei voiced concerns about young Chinese players warming benches in the NBA.

Menk Bateer and Wang Zhizhi, the other two towers in China's NBA "Great Wall," were characterized by regular transfers and little game time.

His NBA aspirations clashed with China duties, leading to his sacking after failing to join the national team during the Asian Games in 2002. Wang returned to China earlier this year.

Wang and the rest of Yao's team mates will return to domestic league clubs for the kickoff of the CBA 2006/2007 season in October, before being called up for November's Asian Games.

Yao has been exempted from the Asian Games, Xinhua reported.