The Chinese men's volleyball team urged its players to be beware of self protection and avoid injuries in their run-up to the Beijing Olympic Games.

A Chinese national player was injured during practice on June 15 and is facing permanent paralysis, making him the second Chinese athlete in less than a week to suffer neck and spinal cord injuries.

Tang Miao suffered a broken neck while training for a friendly match in St. Petersburg, Russia, with his Shanghai-based club team

Tang's injury came after teenage gymnast Wang Yan broke her neck in the national gymnastics championships in Shanghai.

Wang was injured on June 10 when she fell from the uneven parallel bars and is likely facing permanent paralysis.