Chinese centre Yao Ming hopes to return stronger following surgery after his National Basketball Association (NBA) season came to an early end when he suffered a broken left foot.

Yao suffered the injury on Monday night during an 85-83 loss for his Houston Rockets at Utah when his foot was struck by Mehmet Okur of the Jazz in the first quarter.

"I was just fighting for position," Yao said. "I think Okur just kicked on my foot. That happens on the court."

Yao continued for a few more plays but after landing awkwardly he was helped off the court and taken to the locker room where an exam showed the broken bone that will sideline him the rest of the season.

Injuries to several top players have made for a disappointing season for the Rockets, 33-45.

"I hope I'm the last one," Yao said. "After my last post-surgery comeback, I made 20 (points) and 10 (rebounds). Maybe it's the best thing for me and when I come back I'll be stronger."

Yao and Steve Nash will take part in this year's Basketball without Borders instructional camp, reports said on Tuesday from New York.

Point guard Nash of the Pheonix Sun will return to his birthplace in South Africa. The basketball camp there, which is in its sixth year, also teaches about social issues such as HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention. More than 120 players, coaches and team personnel have taken part in the program.

Nash was born in Johannesburg, which will host a camp in September. Africans Dikembe Mutombo (Congo) and Chicago's Luol Deng (Sudan) will also be on the trip.

The camp will go to Lithuania and Puerto Rico for the first time, and return to China where Yao will lead the group to his hometown of Shanghai. Last year the camp was in Beijing.

(China Daily April 13, 2006)