Yao Ming's wife pregnant: report

Yao Ming's wife pregnant: report

Yao Ming attends the contract-signing ceremony with Maxxis in Shanghai, Dec. 18, 2009. Shanghai Men's Basketball Team was formally announced its new name as Shanghai Maxxis Tire Basketball Team Friday.

BEIJING, Jan. 5 -- China's NBA star Yao Ming and his wife are expecting their first child, the Guangzhou Daily reported Tuesday.

A close friend of Yao's wife Ye Li revealed the happy news at a show for the Shanghai World Expo.

"Ye looks well now and sleeps early every day for the wellbeing of the fetus. The couple hopes to have a boy," said Miao Lijie.

"She was supposed to be with the show today, but I understand that it's inconvenient for her to come," Miao added.

Ye gained weight recently causing speculation in the media that she was expecting.

Injured Houston Rockets center Yao Ming stands over his team as coach Rick Adelman talks with Shane Battier, Brent Barry, Ron Artest, Aaron Brooks,and Chuck Hayes as they take a time-out against the Los Angeles Lakers during Game 7 of their NBA Western Conference semi-final basketball playoff game in Los Angeles, May 17, 2009.

(China daily)