Yao talks tough in face of "worst" draw

Injured Chinese basketball player Yao Ming waves as he arrives at a media conference in Beijing June 26, 2008.

BEIJING (Reuters) - China centre Yao Ming has described the national team's draw for the Olympic tournament as the "worst imaginable" but said the host's goals remained unchanged, local media reported on Wednesday.

China aims to reach the quarter-finals of the tournament but must take one of the top four places in Group B to do so. The group includes world champions Spain, the United States, as well as European powers Greece and Germany, and African champs Angola.

"This is the worst draw I can ever imagine," the Houston Rockets All Star told the China Daily.

"The other teams are very strong, but our goal stays the same."

Yao helped his team win two out of three matches at the Stankovic Cup in Hangzhou last week, but has yet to fully recover from surgery on a stress fracture to his left foot in March.

China finished the tournament with a 72-50 victory over a depleted Russia side, following a win over Serbia and a one-point loss to Angola.

"We lost to them (Angola) in Hangzhou but we were not in our best shape last week," he added. "Their players are not very competitive, and I don't think they are able to pose any real threat at the Games."

Yao said he and team mate Yi Jianlian would be able to handle Germany's NBA exports -- Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks and L.A. Clippers centre Chris Kaman.

"We are not afraid of Germany either. Yi Jianlian has improved tremendously after playing one season in the NBA and he can limit Nowitzki. And I can take care of Chris Kaman," Yao said.

(Reporting by Ian Ransom; Editing by Peter Rutherford)