Sun allays fears over Liu's injury
Source: Agencies |
July 16, 2012, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
LIU Xiang's withdrawal from the final of the 110-meter hurdles at the London Grand Prix on Friday was just a precautionary measure and the back problem that forced the pullout does not pose any threat to the Chinese star's Olympic campaign, his coach said.
The 2004 Olympic champion, who turned 29 on Friday, pulled out of the final after tweaking his back while warming up but coach Sun Haiping said Liu was feeling well after a night's rest.
"It's just a slight problem. Liu Xiang felt a little uncomfortable in his back after the heat round. We decided to pull out of the finals just for the sake of caution," Sun was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.
"Liu could have finished the race if we wanted him to. But we thought that it was unnecessary in this event.
"He will be sure to fight to the end in the Olympic Games."
One of China's highest-profile athletes, Liu won gold in Athens eight years ago but injury robbed him of the chance to defend his title on home soil in 2008.
"I will be back for the Olympic Games," the Shanghai native told Chinese reporters before leaving for an undisclosed training location outside England to avoid the wet and cold weather, the report added.
Liu is a medal favorite at the Games but is likely to face stiff competition from Olympic champion and world record holder Dayron Robles.
The 25-year-old Cuban will be bidding to become the first man since American great Roger Kingdom in 1984/1988 to successfully defend his title in the event.
His coach Santiago Antunez is confident Robles will defend his title successfully, even against a resurgent Liu.
"He is the Olympic champion, and the fastest in the world in the event," said Antunez.
"If he loses in London in what is a really tough competition it will be because of a problem that occurs on the day."
American Aries Merritt, who won the race in Liu's absence at Crystal Palace to equal his own season's fastest time of 12.93 seconds, is also among the frontrunners as is his compatriot Jason Richardson, who finished second on Friday in 13.06 seconds.
The men's 110-meter hurdles at the Olympics will be held on August 7 and the gold medal will be decided on August 8.
The 2004 Olympic champion, who turned 29 on Friday, pulled out of the final after tweaking his back while warming up but coach Sun Haiping said Liu was feeling well after a night's rest.
"It's just a slight problem. Liu Xiang felt a little uncomfortable in his back after the heat round. We decided to pull out of the finals just for the sake of caution," Sun was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.
"Liu could have finished the race if we wanted him to. But we thought that it was unnecessary in this event.
"He will be sure to fight to the end in the Olympic Games."
One of China's highest-profile athletes, Liu won gold in Athens eight years ago but injury robbed him of the chance to defend his title on home soil in 2008.
"I will be back for the Olympic Games," the Shanghai native told Chinese reporters before leaving for an undisclosed training location outside England to avoid the wet and cold weather, the report added.
Liu is a medal favorite at the Games but is likely to face stiff competition from Olympic champion and world record holder Dayron Robles.
The 25-year-old Cuban will be bidding to become the first man since American great Roger Kingdom in 1984/1988 to successfully defend his title in the event.
His coach Santiago Antunez is confident Robles will defend his title successfully, even against a resurgent Liu.
"He is the Olympic champion, and the fastest in the world in the event," said Antunez.
"If he loses in London in what is a really tough competition it will be because of a problem that occurs on the day."
American Aries Merritt, who won the race in Liu's absence at Crystal Palace to equal his own season's fastest time of 12.93 seconds, is also among the frontrunners as is his compatriot Jason Richardson, who finished second on Friday in 13.06 seconds.
The men's 110-meter hurdles at the Olympics will be held on August 7 and the gold medal will be decided on August 8.
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