China's NBA star Yao Ming and his wife are expecting their first child, the Guangzhou Daily reported today.

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.