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Liu Xiang now in 'very good' form

: 0 Comments Print E-mail shanghaidaily, November 18, 2010

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Former Olympic 110-meter hurdles champion Liu Xiang is in good shape and avoiding public attention as he eyes a third straight Asian Games gold medal in Guangzhou, China's athletics team leader said.

Liu, who underwent an operation in the United States in 2008 on the damaged Achilles tendon that forced him out of the Beijing Olympics, recently returned to the US to seek reassurance from his doctors.

Despite this, China's head coach Feng Shuyong said Liu's form was now "very good" and his preparations were going well.

"Liu Xiang is physically and psychologically ready," Feng said.

The wildly popular though cosseted Liu, who has his privacy fiercely guarded by a large entourage, was undergoing closed training in Guangzhou in a quiet run-up to his race next Monday.

"I really appreciate all the fans and media paying so much attention to him ... however, watching his training on the track could divert his attention and easily get him injured," Feng said.

Liu's major rival for the gold in a relatively weak field is expected to be his friend and compatriot Shi Dongpeng.

In the Shanghai Diamond League meeting in May, Liu finished third behind Shi and winner David Oliver of the US.

"Overall, the standard of men's 110-meter hurdles in Asia is relatively low so China can take advantage of it," Feng said.

"Liu Xiang has been training so hard, trying to do his best in next week's competition."

One of China's highest-profile athletes, Liu won gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics, set a world record in 2006 at 12.88 seconds, which has since been broken by Cuba's Dayron Robles, and claimed the world title in Osaka in 2007.