Olympic champion Liu Xiang said in Osaka on Thursday that his
goal is to get a medal at the world championships in Osaka.
The 23-year-old Chinese star, also holder of the men's 110m
hurdles world record of 12.88 seconds, reached the final by
clocking 13.25 seconds to finish second in heat 3. Cuba's rising
star Dayron Robles won the heat in 13.21.
Liu was the fifth overall in the three heat while American David
Payne was the fastest by winning heat 1 in 13.19.
"The race was easier than yesterday. But it is tomorrow's race
that matters," Liu said.
But Liu, who has not won the world title in three attempts,
played down his winning chance although American hurdler Dominique
Arnold had pulled out of the championships and defending champion
Ladji Doucoure of France was eliminated.
"I'm aware of that," he said. "But I don't want to think about
my opponents and just run my own race. Now, I'll be running the
final to get a medal."
Doucoure crashed out after finishing third in his heat with
13.36, behind American Terrence Trammell in 13.23 and Ukraine's
Serhiy Demydyuk in 13.35.
Liu's teammate Shi Dongpeng also qualified for the last eight by
finishing second in his heat in 13.24. It will be Shi's second time
to run in a championships final after settling sixth in 2003
Paris.
"I am a little bit tired from the heats," Shi said. "Now, I do
not want to think too much about the final. I only want to have a
good rest."
Shi, the second best hurdler in China for years, added, "Since
the championships two years ago and since the Olympics three years
ago, I have improved a lot. I achieved solid times around 13,20. I
am an 'old' hurdler now (laughs)."
(Xinhua News Agency August 31, 2007)