Yao Ming turns swinger, but struggles with maths
Yao Ming checks out a specially made club for bigger boys.
Former NBA basketball superstar turned aspiring China politician Yao Ming is taking a swing at golf. So now on top of kissing babies and shaking hands with voters, he'll also be the charity ambassador of a celebrity pro-am golf tournament.
The 31-year-old athlete and policymaker recently disclosed that he's recently found himself addicted to the sport and would compete at the Mission Hills World Celebrity Pro-Am in Hainan Province in October.
"There are many things basketball can learn from golf," said the ex Houston Rockets centre. "For one thing, each golfer has his own ball and they don't need to scramble for it."
"I'm a totally fresh hand at golf and just began learning how to play," he admitted. "It brings back fond memories of when I played basketball as a child. I was strong-minded and determined to go on that path."
This year's Mission Hills tournament features footballer Ronaldo, former Chinese gymnast Li Ning, former world no. 1 snooker star Stephen Hendry, former Masters champion Ian Woosnam, Chinese movie director Feng Xiaogang, and Hong Kong actors Eric Tsang and Simon Yam. They'll be competing for the US$1mil prize.
Yao said golfing has many similarities with charity work. "Both might not run smoothly and present many obstacles to overcome. In both sectors we need to brave the difficulties and continue to advance toward the goal."
He also added golfing would help him stay fit, as he'd been struggling with his weight lately. "If golf proves useful in weight control, I will persist with it."
Yao Ming goes swinging at a Shanghai hotel practice course.
Meanwhile, though he ended his sports career last July, Yao still assumes a number of roles including running a foundation named after him, being a member of the standing committee of Shanghai's political advisory body, raising his two-year-old daughter, and studying as an undergraduate at the Antai Economics And Management College of Shanghai Jiaotong University.
Reports have surfaced that Yao's schoolwork has suffered due to his busy schedule. Apparently maths is his biggest headache. But he refused to talk about his poor performance, only saying that he had completed his freshman year and was enjoying his summer break.
Source: China Daily/ANN
Published: 28th June 2012
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