Liu Xiang Wins 110 Hurdles at Asian Champs

Liu Xiang Wins 110 Hurdles at Asian Champs in Kobe, Japan

From Shanghaiist:

China’s flying hurdler, Liu Xiang (刘翔) has done it again. Yesterday in Kobe, Japan, Liu clocked 13.22 seconds in the 110-hurdles event, re-writing the Asian Athletics Championships record. The first Chinese athlete to achieve the “triple crown” of athletics (World Record Holder, World Champion and Olympic Champion), Liu has been making a steady comeback since his shocking pullout from the 2008 Beijing Olympics. His world record of 12.88 seconds, set 2006 at the Super Grand Prix in Lausanne, was broken by Cuba’s Dayron Robles two years later. Robles continues to hold the world record of 12.87 seconds today.

Liu returned to hurdles in 2009 at Shanghai Grand Prix and won gold at the Asian Games in Guangzhou last November. He won at the Shanghai Diamond League this spring by clocking 13.07 over David Oliver in May, and the American took revenge at Liu in Eugene, Oregon a month later in 12.94 seconds.

Liu changed his starting strategy by cutting eight to seven steps in running to the first hurdle earlier this year. He is to compete in 2011 World Championships in Athletics next month in Daegu, South Korea.

Photo: Netease