BEIJING, January 11, 2010 (AFP) - China's star centre Yao Ming said Monday that his foot injury would likely keep him from playing in the 2010 World Basketball Championships in Turkey, state news agency Xinhua reported.

"I'm not going to have competitive games until July. I don't think so," Yao was quoted as saying in a webchat with leading portal sohu.com when asked about playing in the Worlds, which open in late August.

"Maybe it's a better chance for the young Chinese players to prove themselves," the Houston Rocket said.

Yao's absence is likely to be a big blow to the national side's chances and comes after China came second in the Asian Basketball Championships last year, losing to Iran in the final without the NBA All-Star.

Last month at the East Asian Games in Hong Kong, the long-time Asian basketball powerhouse failed to win a medal.

Yao broke his foot in an NBA play-off game against the Los Angeles Lakers last May and is sitting out the entire 2009-2010 NBA season as he recovers.

During the webchat, Yao also confirmed that he and his wife are expecting a baby, their first.

"I also want to tell everybody (that I am going to be a father). It's always a delightful thing to be a father," Yao said.