Houston Rockets star center Yao Ming will return to join China's national team on May 20, and Orlando Magic center Mengke Bateer is due in the capital city on Monday.

Bateer, the only Chinese basketball player to win an NBA Championship ring, arrived at his hometown in Inner Mongolia last week. He is expected to come to Beijing on Monday and attend national team training on Tuesday.

Yao Ming is remaining in the US for now to watch the Chinese women's warm-up games. He will return with the women's squad later this month.

(CRI May 10, 2004)