Chinese basketball officials want to end a feud with Miami Heat center Wang Zhizhi in time for him to return for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, media reported Tuesday.

The first mainland Chinese player in the NBA, Wang angered the basketball association by refusing to return for national team duties following his 2001-2002 rookie season.

Since then, his fame in China has been eclipsed by Houston Rockets center Yao Ming, who has diligently showed up for national duties, including leading China to an eighth-place finish at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Chinese Basketball Association Secretary General Li Yuanwei met with Wang three times last week in Los Angeles in the first face-to-face talks between the sides since the dispute began, news Web site sina.com reported.

Wang needs to "take practical action to change his mistakes and make a contribution to the 2008 Beijing Olympics," it quoted Li as saying, without giving any details.

"We hope he can gather up his determination, take action, and come on home at an early date," Li said.

Wang could not immediately be reached for comment.

Li was also quoted as denying rumors that Wang's estrangement was linked to basketball association demands for a chunk of his NBA salary.

Basketball officials have never demanded payment from any Chinese playing overseas, Li said, adding that a US$160,000 gift from Yao Ming during the 2003-2004 season had been invested in youth basketball programs.

(AP via China Daily February 22, 2006)