BEIJING - The wife of Chinese basketball star Yao Ming gave birth to a daughter Friday afternoon at a hospital in Houston, the United States, Yao's agency said.

　　中国篮球明星姚明的经纪人公司称，姚明的妻子叶莉于周五下午在美国休斯敦的一家医院诞下一名千金。

　　Yao, who has been sidelined for about a year due to a foot injury, said he wants to thank everybody who cares about his wife, Ye Li, and his daughter during the past several months.

　　由于脚伤退赛近一年的姚明说，他想谢谢在过去几个月里一直关心他的妻子和女儿的每一个人。

The NBA All-Star center said he hopes the media do not throw the spotlight on his family so that his daughter could grow up like other babies of ordinary families.

　　而作为全明星中锋的姚明还说，他希望媒体不要将注意力放在他的家庭上面，这样他的女儿就能像其他普通家庭的宝宝一样成长。

Yao is expected to come back on court next season.

　　另外，姚明预计会在下个赛季重返赛场。