At the World Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea China's Liu Xiang has gotten off to a very solid beginning. Liu, breezing through the opening round of the 110m hurdles earlier this morning, easily moving on to the semi-final round.

China's Liu Xiang(L) competes during the heat of men's 110m hurdles at the IAAF World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, Aug. 28, 2011. Liu advanced to the next round with 13.20 seconds. [Xinhua]

Liu, running in lane five...lining up alongside the defending World champion Ryan Brathwaite of Barbados. Liu, wearing his familiar Chinese red...got off to a great start in the heat.

Liu, making the switch earlier this year from eight steps before the first hurdle to seven...and he looked very comfortable, cruising to the finish line in a time of 13.20 seconds to win the heat, the second best time of the morning heats.

European champ Evan Turner finished in second, while Braithwaite...who has been struggling with injuries, finished fifth and was eliminated.

Also moving on in the morning heats were World Record holder Dayron Robles of Cuba and America's Darren Oliver, so a potential showdown between Liu, Robles and Oliver still very much a possibility.