NBA star center Yao Ming felt hurt by the performance of his Chinese national teammates, who lost to Spain 83-58 at the 28th Olympic Games men's basketball tournament on on August 15.

"I feel very bad," said the 2.26 meter Yao, who was fouled out with more than four mintues to go in the preliminary pool A match to finish with 12 points and eight rebounds for China.

"I am really upset. I got hurt almost every time playing for the national team," he said, adding that "I cannot figure out the reason why (we played badly). Were they (teammates) nervous? or they would not take responsibilities? I just did what I could do."

"We give up easily every time when we come across some obstacles," he added.

Yao is familiar with the way that the Chinese team loses in major tournament. At the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, the Chinese team was defeated by their arch-rivals South Korea in the final two years ago.

"I still put my confidence in the team at that time as more veterans played in that final (at the Asian Games). Now all the promising young players are in the team, but they played to the same result here," he said.

Asked whether he had tried to influence his teammates, Yao, who was famed for his fighting spirit on the court, shook his head slightly.

"They have their own thoughts, I can not influence anyone," Yao said before heading to the locker room.