"I know I will retire one day. My career will end sooner or later. Even if I can play until I am 36, I have to accept that fact," he said.

"The only problem is that 30 is the golden time for an athlete, but for me it's sudden death and I find it hard to accept that."

Yao has been constantly battling leg and foot injuries and has missed major chunks of the previous NBA five seasons.

He missed 21 games in 2005-06 after having surgery on his infected left big toe, then broke a bone in his left foot with four games left in the regular season. He had to sit out for 32 games the next season after breaking his right leg and then 26 games for a stress fracture in his left foot during the 2007-08 season.

Ironically, the 2008-09 season was the most injury-free season for Yao since 2005-06, when he played in 80 regular-season games. Before the May 8 injury, he played in 77 regular season games.

Yao also doubted he will be able to play for China's national team again, although Chinese officials obviously want him to come back.

"It just depends on how well I recover from the foot injury. If my foot can survive the whole season and require no surgery in the summer, I will probably play for China again," he said.

"I think I can still help the Chinese team. But, realistically speaking, I am not the future of China basketball due to my age.

"China needs to have a new generation of players to take the responsibilities (from me)."

【体坛英语资讯：Yao Ming fears he wont be bigger, better than ever】相关文章：

★ 体坛英语资讯：Beijing Olympic flame arrives in Pakistani capital

★ 体坛英语资讯：Kansas tops Memphis to clinch first NCAA title

★ 体坛英语资讯：China trounces Singapore 7-1 in AFC U-19

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Ashlee Simpson pregnant days after engaged

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Matt Damon named sexiest man alive

★ 体坛英语资讯：Nalbandian tames Nadal again in Paris final

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Hayden Panettiere stars in Got Milk campaign

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Heath Ledgers will does not include daughter,ex-lover

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Kylie is new face of Tous jewellery

★ 体坛英语资讯：Chinas Zheng to miss World Cup qualifier