Chinese basketball star Yao Ming may come back to normal training as early as in June if everything goes smoothly, sohu.com reports. Yao's teammate on the national team, Mengke Bateer, revealed the timetable in an interview with the website, saying the star will take about four months to recover.

Bateer said the optimal result will be that Yao will be able to start intensive training when the NBA finals kick off in June.

He said the Houston Rockets center has been doing special training to help regain strength in his legs.

The practice required Yao to try to jog on the same spot in water against pull force with a string tied on his waist from behind, Bateer explained.

Yao was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his left foot on February 27 and underwent operation in early March. The rockets have confirmed the center player can return to match before the start of the Beijing Olympics in August.

Yao averaged 22 points and 10.8 rebounds this season and led the team to a 12 winning streak before the injury, which was later extended to 22.

(CRI April 1, 2008)