China’s NBA star Yao Ming said Friday his broken left foot was on the mend and he planned to return to the Houston Rockets for the 2010-11 season.

Yao Ming holding the ball on offense against t...

Houston Rockets Star player Yao Ming

“I’ll be back next season,” Yao told reporters after a news conference to launch a public campaign to stop consumption of shark fin soup.

But Yao, who has been ruled out for the current NBA season, said his participation in the 20

10 World Basketball Championships in Turkey starting in August looked unlikely.

“It all depends on my injury. It looks like my schedule is on time, but it looks like it will be a little difficult,” he said. More >