Yao Ming's season-ending foot injury caused shock and concern in his native China on Wednesday although hopes remained high he'd recover in time for the Beijing Olympics in August, the Associated Press reports.

Yao is the world's best known Chinese athlete and far and away the most popular sports star in China, embodying the country's collective hopes for global competitiveness and international acceptance.

"The only thing offering Yao Ming any solace at this time is that his injury will not force him to miss the Beijing Olympics of his dreams," leading newspaper Titan Sports said in a front page article.

Via Associated Press

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