Yao plays down medal hopes after low-key return

China's talisman Yao Ming was downbeat about his team's chances of winning a medal despite returning from injury to help them win two of three matches at the Stankovic Cup Olympic warm-up tournament in Hangzhou.

The Houston Rockets All-Star played a part in all three games but was clearly not fully fit as he continued his recovery from surgery on a stress fracture to his left foot in March.

China beat Serbia 96-72 on Yao's return last Thursday, went down 72-71 to Angola on Saturday and rounded the tournament off with a 72-50 victory over a weakened Russia team on Sunday.

"My form in the games might be an illusion, caused by the differing quality of opponents," he told reporters.

"We have lots of problems, in rebound, in defence and in shooting quality, overall. These cannot be solved in one or two days."

Basketball is hugely popular in China but the hosts will have to be at their best to take one of the top four places in their group and progress to the quarter-finals of the Aug. 9-24 tournament.