<div id="subtitle">Injured NBA star Yao Ming enjoying role as owner of Chinese team where it all began</div><div><p>Sidelined by a foot injury, Houston Rockets star Yao Ming says he's finding a new kind of satisfaction as owner of his former Chinese team, the Shanghai Sharks.</p><p>Yao bought out the financially troubled team's former owners in July for an undisclosed sum in a bid to revive its fortunes.</p><p>The club is in fourth in the 17-team Chinese league, two points out of first place.</p><p>"I bought the Sharks to give them a boost and do something on behalf of Chinese basketball," Yao said in an interview with the official Xinhua News Agency appearing in newspapers Thursday.</p><p>"To be honest, they've played well this season, beyond my expectations, but we also see their deficiencies and need to toughen up in the coming seasons."</p><p>Yao saved the team after the loss of their main sponsor threatened to keep them out of the league in 2009-2010.</p><p>The 7-foot-6 center played for the Sharks from 1997 to 2002 and took them to the league championship title in the 2001-2002 season, after being runner-up in the playoffs the previous two years. The team has struggled to make the playoffs since his departure for the NBA.</p><p>Yao has dismissed speculation that the investment was a step toward retirement, although recurring injuries have raised fears that his career could be winding down.</p><p>He had surgery in May to repair a hairline fracture in his left foot and has said he wants to allow enough time for his bones to fully heal.</p><p>Yao has pledged to return Shanghai to its former winning ways while staying out of day-to-day operations and management. Captained by Chinese international Liu Wei and coached by American Bobby Donewald Jr., the Sharks also have former Houston Rockets guard John Lucas.</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=67439823&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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