Yao Wants to Meet and Beat Ri

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, September 28, 2002

Yao Wants to Meet and Beat Ri

2002 NBA draft top pick Yao Ming, who took the court here on Friday for China's opener at the Asian Games, wanted to meet and beat former NBA candidate Ri Myong-Hun at the Busan Asian Games.

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2002 NBA draft top pick Yao Ming, who took the court in Busan of Republic of Korean on Friday for China's opener at the Asian Games, wanted to meet and beat former NBA candidate Ri Myong-Hun at the Busan Asian Games.

"What does he look like," Yao asked a Xinhua sportswriter who saw the 2.35-meter Ri in DPR Korea men's basketball team's training on Thursday. "Is he taller than me?"

"I am looking forward to meeting him on the court, and beating him," he said after China's first and final workout at the Geumjeong Gymnasium before the kickoff of the Asiad basketball tournament.

Yao will have a chance to meet Ri on the court if China and DPRKorea both finished top two in each preliminary group of the 12-team men's basketball.

The 2.26-meter Yao and his teammates will strive to defend their Asian Games title at Busan.

"Our objective is to win the gold medal," said head coach Wang Fei. "But we have to do it step by step."

China will meet Kuwait in their preliminary Group A opener on Saturday.

"We should take seriously every team we meet," Wang added.

Wang also said that the Chinese players have pulled themselves out of a disappointing 12th finish at the recent world championship.

"The players are in good shape and mood, they worked very hard in the training," he said.

Twelve teams were to compete in four groups at the Asian Games men's basketball tournament after Asian runners-up Lebanon's withdrawal on Wednesday.

The hosts South Korea and China were considered as the hot title favorites.

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