Yao Ming invites Liu Xiang to join long-distance relay race team  

姚明邀劉翔跑長距離 稱跑步可與三大球并駕齊驅

日前，由姚明發起的“2014要跑-24小時城市接力賽”在龍灣國際露營公園展開。姚明當天完成了3.5公里的任務，他認為跑步是世界的第一運動，在中國，未來跑步的地位有機會和三大球并駕齊驅。被問到再有機會最想邀請誰來加入自己的跑團，姚明說：“劉翔吧，他短跑牛，我想看看他跑長距離如何。” [查看全文]

(ECNS) – Former NBA center Yao Ming says he wants to see Olympic hurdler Liu Xiang's performance in a long-distance run, the Guangzhou Daily reported.

The basketball star launched a 24-hour relay race on Saturday in Beijing. He finished 3,500 meters in the first round and another 3,500 meters in the second round the next day.

Yao said it was the longest distance run he has attempted since retiring in 2011.

Feng Kun, former captain of the Chinese women's volleyball team, along with famous sportscaster Yu Jia and actor Pu Cunxi joined Yao's team, helping him finish the relay race.

When asked who else he wanted on his team if there's another race, Yao said it was Liu Xiang. "I know he's skilled in sprinting. But I want to see how he would do in a long-distance run."

Yao said running is the most popular sport in the world. "In China, it will be as popular and important as basketball, football and volleyball in the next few years," he added.