Liu eyes world title after Germany run
Source: Agencies |
February 13, 2011, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
FORMER Olympic 110-meter hurdles champion Liu Xiang said he was ready to challenge for the world title later this year despite finishing third on Friday in his first athletics outing in Europe in three years.
Liu came in at 7.60 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles race behind Czech Petr Svoboda and American Kevin Craddock who both clocked 7.57.
"I feel very good and I will be getting better. I already look forward to the world championships (in Daegu, South Korea). I want to do really well there," Liu said through a translator after the final at the Duesseldorf meeting in Germany.
"Sixty meters is not my strength anyway because I am faster in the second part of the race and the 60m is too short for me. But it was good preparation. The world championships are over 110m so it is a different thing," said Liu, looking relaxed and smiling.
The 2004 Athens Olympic champion has also set his sights on the Olympic title in London next year after limping out injured in Beijing in front of 90,000 stunned home fans three years ago with a nagging Achilles injury.
A much-awaited clash with Olympic champion Dayron Robles did not materialize in Duesseldorf after the Cuban dropped out with a minor back muscle injury just before his heat.
"That is normal. He did not want to get more injured," the 27-year-old Liu said. "But there are many more competitions ahead."
"We are both young and I want to have a career as long as (American hurdler) Allen Johnson who retired at 39 so you will see many great races between us two," Robles, 24, said when asked about his rivalry with Liu.
Liu is due to race against American hurdler David Oliver at an event in Karlsruhe today.
American Kellie Wells won the women's 60 hurdles in 7.89 seconds. In her qualifying heat she ran 7.84, a world's best this year.
Kim Collins of Saint Kitts and Nevis beat his personal best, set eight years before in Birmingham, by one hundredth of a second to claim the men's 60 sprint in 6.52.
Ukrainian Olesja Powh won the women's event in 7.13.
Liu came in at 7.60 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles race behind Czech Petr Svoboda and American Kevin Craddock who both clocked 7.57.
"I feel very good and I will be getting better. I already look forward to the world championships (in Daegu, South Korea). I want to do really well there," Liu said through a translator after the final at the Duesseldorf meeting in Germany.
"Sixty meters is not my strength anyway because I am faster in the second part of the race and the 60m is too short for me. But it was good preparation. The world championships are over 110m so it is a different thing," said Liu, looking relaxed and smiling.
The 2004 Athens Olympic champion has also set his sights on the Olympic title in London next year after limping out injured in Beijing in front of 90,000 stunned home fans three years ago with a nagging Achilles injury.
A much-awaited clash with Olympic champion Dayron Robles did not materialize in Duesseldorf after the Cuban dropped out with a minor back muscle injury just before his heat.
"That is normal. He did not want to get more injured," the 27-year-old Liu said. "But there are many more competitions ahead."
"We are both young and I want to have a career as long as (American hurdler) Allen Johnson who retired at 39 so you will see many great races between us two," Robles, 24, said when asked about his rivalry with Liu.
Liu is due to race against American hurdler David Oliver at an event in Karlsruhe today.
American Kellie Wells won the women's 60 hurdles in 7.89 seconds. In her qualifying heat she ran 7.84, a world's best this year.
Kim Collins of Saint Kitts and Nevis beat his personal best, set eight years before in Birmingham, by one hundredth of a second to claim the men's 60 sprint in 6.52.
Ukrainian Olesja Powh won the women's event in 7.13.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
