Yao Ming tries a smaller ball

Former NBA basketball player Yao Ming, right, plays table tennis with Liu Guoliang, left, head coach of the Chinas National men's table tennis team and former Chinese table tennis player who won all titles at major world tournaments, during Chinas National table tennis teams visit to Shanghai Jiaotong University in Shanghai, China, December 3, 2013. [Photo/icpress.cn]

Former NBA basketball player Yao Ming smiles holding a ping-pong bat while playing table tennis with Liu Guoliang, left, head coach of the China's national men's table tennis team and former Chinese national player who won all titles at major world tournaments, during Chinas National table tennis teams visit to Shanghai Jiaotong University in Shanghai, China, December 3 2013. [Photo/icpress.cn]

Former NBA basketball player Yao Ming, back, poses with Liu Guoliang, front right, head coach of the China's national men's table tennis team and former Chinese national player who won all titles at major world tournaments, and Ding Ning, front left, Chinese national player who won Winner of the World Championships in 2011, during Chinas National table tennis teams visit to Shanghai Jiaotong University in Shanghai, China, December 3, 2013. [Photo/icpress.cn]

Former NBA basketball player Yao Ming smiles holding a ping-pong bat while playing table tennis with Liu Guoliang, not pictured, head coach of the China’s national men’s table tennis team and former national player who won all titles at major world tournaments, during Chinas National table tennis teams visit to Shanghai Jiaotong University in Shanghai, China, December3, 2013.