Tang, who suffered a terrible injury in St. Petersburg during a training session, was in Russia last week with his club team Shanghai to play a friendly match when he seriously injured his neck.

"The whole volleyball family is waiting for better news from Shanghai, home town of the 25 year-old player Tang Miao," FIVB said.

Tang is the husband of Zhou Suhong, the captain of the women's national team. Tang has returned to Shanghai for further treatment after his operation there.

He was injured on June 15 during training when he lost his balance while jumping and heavily hit his head on the floor, causing serious damage to his cervical vertebrae and leaving him unconscious.

Tang was immediately transported to the Second Hospital of Saint¹ Petersburg for urgent treatment. Initial² reports said the Chinese player might suffer from paralysis³ for the rest of his life as a doctor of the hospital was quoted as saying Tang could not feel below his knees so the injury might lead to a disability.

However, an official from China's Consulate⁴ in St. Petersburg in a telephone interview disclosed⁵ that Tang had regained⁶ consciousness⁷ after his operation in the hospital and could now speak though not very clearly.

Because his condition was stable, Tang could be taken back to Shanghai by a special plane for further treatment.

It is reported that the Chinese player arrived in Shanghai on June 19. His wife Zhou, the captain of the Chinese women's national team and the best opposite in Chinese women's volleyball, arrived from Beijing to see her husband soon after his arrival.

The authorities concerned have not officially disclosed anything about Tang's injury and his condition.

The media were refused access to the airport when Tang arrived and were not allowed to enter the hospital due to Tang's condition, the press release said.

Officials of the Shanghai Volleyball Association promised to hold a press conference about Tang's injury soon. The Chinese Volleyball Association and Chinese National team's head coach Zhou Jianan expressed their shock over Tang's injury and made contact with Shanghai to get more details.

They all wished that Tang will recover soon. Tang entered the Chinese National Team in 2002 and became one of the six first-line players one year later. Tang has played for China in the 2004 Olympic qualification tournaments, World Championships and World League. He is also the key player of the Shanghai team, which has been National Champion for four consecutive⁸ years.