Liu Xiang sizzles in rain for gold
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Athens Olympic champion Liu Xiang easily won the 110 meters hurdles title at the 18th Asian Athletics Championships in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, yesterday.
The Shanghai native clocked 13.50 seconds to win the race on a wet track after a heavy downpour. It was enough to secure a spot at next year's World Cup.
Liu's teammate Shi Dongpeng took silver in 13.67, while South Korea's Park Tae-kyong finished third in 13.82.
"I felt good to race in the rain," Liu said later. "Now I want to refresh myself with a warm bath."
Earlier, China's Liu Chunhua, who won the gold at National Games last month, clinched the women's javelin gold after a close contest with compatriot Li Lingwei and Japan's Yuki Ebihara.
Liu and Ebihara both have personal best over 60 meters.
Liu led with a 52.81 throw after the first round with Li coming close in 52.71. Liu then progressed to 57.93 in round three which cemented her title.
Ebihara, bronze medalist at the 2006 Doha Asian Games, got off to a slow start and posted a below-par mark of 47.03 - more than 13 meters shorter than her personal and season best of 60.84.
Li finished second with 55.13 and South Korea's Kim Kyong-ae took the bronze with 52.78.
"I am happy with the win but I am not quite satisfied with today's performance," said Liu, referring to her personal and seasonal best of 60.65, a world-level result she got at the recent National Games.
