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Hurdler confident ahead of Asian Games

By Lei Lei (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-10-26 08:02

BEIJING - China's star hurdler Liu Xiang is targeting his third successive victory at the Asian Games next month, one of his biggest events during a prolonged comeback from an Achilles' tendon injury.

"I want to win at my third Asian Games and add one gold medal for China," Liu said on Friday after his last public training session before the Asiad in his hometown, Shanghai. "I'm in good form recently and I want to get the right feeling back gradually."

The 27-year-old was forced out of the men's 110m hurdles at the 2008 Beijing Olympics by an Achilles' injury, disappointing a huge crowd of home fans.

After surgery months later in Houston and almost a year of rehabilitation, Liu made his comeback in September 2009 at the IAAF Shanghai Golden Grand Prix meet and narrowly missed out on first place, finishing in an encouraging time of 13.15.

His form later slumped in three successive domestic events, though. He finished seventh at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in March, his first international race after the injury, and lost to compatriot Shi Dongpeng soon after at the Shanghai Diamond League competition.

"My biggest opponent in each race is myself, and I think my confidence should be based on real power," the former world champion and world record-holder said.

"In the recent two or three years, I took in less competition than in 2005 and 2006 and the training intensity is far from before as well. Now I'm trying to make it up and the key point is the ability in competition.

"I'm always optimistic and I think I'm still in good form. Since I'm making improvement, my confidence will pile up as well."

Liu received a check-up from his doctor, Tom Clanton, who performed the surgery on him in Houston, days before the public training session. According to Liu's coach, Sun Haiping, the situation is improving.

"(Liu) didn't feel good after intensive training before, but now he feels not as bad," Sun said. "He can finish between 13.30 and 13.40 in the competition now and he will return to the international stage next year."

China Daily