Chinese track star Liu Xiang set for Shanghai comeback

Liu, 26, will step into the starting blocks at the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix to compete for the first time since he limped out of the Bird's Nest last year during qualifying heats for the 110m hurdles, leaving his fans devastated.

“I feel as though it's the first time Liu Xiang is entering a big competition,” his coach Sun Haiping told the Yangtze Evening News. “It's like starting all over. I'm already prepared to start all over again.”

Liu had an operation in the United States in December to repair the Achilles tendon that forced his dramatic Olympic withdrawal and has been training in secret in Shanghai over the past few months.

He ran a 110m practice heat last week against three Chinese teammates in 13.70 seconds in the wind, according to his official Web site. It was far from his personal best and former world record of 12.88 set in 2006 in Lausanne.

“It's as if one of his legs is an adult's and the other is a child's, very weak. Until now, the strength in his two legs is not quite balanced, but the soreness has decreased considerably,” Sun said.

In the statement announcing Liu's comeback, meet organizers conveyed a message from the Chinese Athletic Association instructing fans to “not focus too much on the final result” — an apparent bid to manage expectations.

Liu, the first Chinese athlete to win a Olympic track gold medal in 2004, remains one of the country's biggest stars but his popularity is waning, according to Forbes magazine's list of the most successful celebrities here.

He dropped to number five this year from number two in 2008, with NBA star and fellow Shanghai native Yao Ming topping the list for six years running.

“I know many people blamed him for not competing in the Beijing Olympics, but we need to understand that the country put too high expectations on him,” said Zhang Ping, a 28-year-old saleswoman.

“It broke my heart when he pulled out of the race, but I believe the agony he felt inside was a thousand times worse than what anyone else felt.”

Zhang said she thought Liu would make Shanghai proud on Sunday, but other fans were less optimistic.

“It will be difficult for him to win major international competitions. Athletes have a limited number of years, especially sprinters,” said Wang Meng, a 35-year-old office worker.

“I am sorry to say but for him, the best is probably over.”

Liu has said his sights are set on reclaiming Olympic glory in London in 2012.

He sees the Shanghai race as the first step on a path leading to the Asian Athletics Championships in November and the East Asian Games in December, organizers said.

Fang Shuiquan, the coach Liu credits with introducing him to the hurdles as a 12-year-old, said he watched Liu run last week.

He predicts Liu will run the 110m in 13.5 seconds, finishing third against four-time world and 1996 Olympic champion Allen Johnson and current world number two Terrence Trammell.

“But don't count out the possibility that he can finish even better,” Fang said. “After all, he's been kept away from the track for a year by injuries and the accumulated explosive force can be very considerable.”

Also in Shanghai, sprint rivals Tyson Gay of the United States and Asafa Powell of Jamaica will face off in the 100m, after the world's fastest man Usain Bolt pulled out of the event, citing fatigue.

Subscribe to The China Post and save 25%. Click here

SharePrintEmail

Write a Comment

Terms

Enter your comments - 3000 characters max

Type in image code

Submit

 Receive China Post promos
 Respond to this email