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China's Liu claims world title in thriller
2007-08-31
Olympic champion Liu Xiang became the first Chinese man to win world athletics gold by claiming the 110 metres hurdles title in a pulsating final on Friday. The Olympic champion trailed American Terrence Trammell over 50 metres but clawed his way back in the final stages, glancing across at his rival as he leaned over the line in 12.95 seconds. Trammell clocked 12.99 with team-mate David Payne taking bronze in 13.02. Cuba's South American record holder Dayron Robles finished fourth ahead of China's Shi Dongpeng. Liu's time was outside both his world record of 12.88 and his season-leading 12.92. However that mattered little to the Chinese hero who could only manage silver two years ago and bronze in 2003. "I want people to know what kind of speed I have. This is number one speed," he said. "There's nothing I can't do. Now I will have even more pressure than before, but this is something I will need to get over to keep going." Defending champion Ladji Doucoure crashed out in the semis, US record holder Dominique Arnold did not travel and rival Allen Johnson failed to make the American team, leaving Liu with an apparently straightforward task. Liu, who was reported to be suffering from a fever before the competition, had played down his chances despite being unbeaten in Osaka and owning the season's quickest time. "I feel really good right now. During the race I made some mistakes and hit some hurdles, so I didn't really run that well," he said. "I could have run better, but I ran well enough. Winning the championship is what matters the most. I wanted to let people know the speed that Asia has." Trammell, who was looking back across at Liu as he lunged for the line, hoped to bounce back at next year's Beijing Olympics. "Even if I won the silver, I feel like I missed the gold," he said. "I felt like I could win, but Liu just had the better race. "I'm making no excuses. There will be more races in the future. It will be different in Beijing." Payne was delighted with his medal after receiving a late call-up to the US team. "I can't believe it. I only found out I could run 45 hours ago," he said. "I'm so excited. It makes up for my disappointments during the season." Liu was tipped by hurdles legend Ed Moses to steal the show in Osaka, where he set a new Asian record in 2004 before storming to the Olympic title and has also won the Japan Grand Prix four times running. His career took off in 2004 when he equalled the world record of 12.91 and became the first Asian man to win Olympic track gold. Liu's superstar status blossomed when he broke Jackson's 13-year-old world mark in Lausanne last year, and he now holds three of the top 10 all-time performances. Millions of Chinese have been eagerly following the progress of their hero, the country's biggest star along with basketballer Yao Ming. China has now doubled its medals tally from two years ago after Zhang Wenxiu's hammer bronze, boost the country ahead of next year's Olympics.
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