[상하이=AP/KNS뉴스통신] 중국의 프로 농구선수 야오밍이 20일 공식으로 NBA 은퇴를 발표할 것으로 알려졌다.
올림픽과 월드컵에서 중국 농구 대표로 활약한 휴스턴 로키츠 소속 야오밍은 신장 2미터29센티(7피트6인치)로 미국 NBA에서 8시즌을 뛰면서 부상으로 정규시즌 250경기에 결장했었다.
20일 거행될 은퇴식은 상하이의 한 호텔에서 수백 명의 기자가 참석한 가운데 올해의 가장 성대한 언론 행사로 치러지며 중국뿐만 아니라 전 세계로 중계 방송된다.
지난 2주 동안 야오밍이 은퇴할 것이라는 소문이 나돌면서 미국 NBA와 그의 소속 팀은 확인을 하지 않고 있고, NBA는 아직 야오밍으로 부터 공식적인 은퇴 요청을 접수하지 않았다고 발표했다.
(영문기사 원문)
Yao set to retire from basketball Wednesday
SHANGHAI (AP) — Yao Ming should make it official on Wednesday, announcing what is widely expected to be his retirement from the NBA and a sport that made him a household name in China.
The 7-foot-6 (2.29-meter) center for the Houston Rockets played for eight seasons in the NBA, but has missed 250 regular-season games over the past six years. His career, including frequent appearances for the Chinese national team at Olympics and world championships, has been punctuated by leg and foot injuries.
On Wednesday, a large reception hall at a hotel in the Pudong section of Shanghai — Yao's hometown — has been booked for what will likely be the country's media event of the year.
Hundreds of media have been accredited to attend the restricted event and are expected to arrive hours early to go through security checks. It is expected to be broadcast live in China and in many countries around the world.
Reports have been circulating for nearly two weeks that the 30-year-old star would retire, but the Rockets have not commented due to the NBA lockout and his management refused to confirm the reports. The NBA said it has not received official retirement paperwork from Yao.
김희광 기자 april4241@naver.com