China's Liu Xiang eases into 110m hurdles semifinals

Chinese Liu Xiang dashes into 110m hurdle semifinals

China's Liu Xiang storms into the semifinals of the men's 110m hurdles at the Olympic Games in Athens on August 25.

The 21-year-old clocked 13.26 seconds to win heat 3.

Defending champion Anier Garcia of Cuba also qualified by finishing second in heat 2 with a time of 13.28, behind heat winner Stanislavs Olijars of Latvia.

Former Olympic gold medalist and four-time world champion Allen Johnson of the United States was eliminated after falling at the second last hurdle in heat 2.

I am in good form

China's Liu Xiang said in Athens on August 25 after storming into the men's 110m hurdles semifinals that he is in "good" form and expects a breakthrough for his country.

The 21-year-old, China's only athletics gold hopeful at the Olympic Games, sailed into the semifinals of the 110m hurdles by winning heat 3 in 13.26 seconds.

"I am in a very good form," he said. "I am excited to be here at the Olympic Games and usually I can maintain a good form at big competitions."

But the Shanghai-born Liu played down gold medal chances in Friday's final.

"There is really some hope of winning the gold. But we must not let the heart rule the head. There are several world-class hurdlers there," he said.

"I think the most difficult thing is Thursday's semifinal," he said. "After that, I think anything can happen."

American Allen Johnson, who has long been regarded as Liu's rival No. 1, fell at the second last hurdle in heat 2 and went out of the Olympics.

But Liu felt a little bit sad learning the story.

"He is my idol. I have a lot of respect to him. I had expected to have a chance to run against him at the Olympic Games," Liu said.

Liu false started in the race but he said he did it on purpose.

"I tried to be equal with the gun," he said. "But the second time I was waiting for gun."

Duan Shijie, vice president of the Chinese Olympic delegation, has said that it will be a breakthrough for China if Liu has reached the top eight.

Chinese men has won only one medal from the track and field at the Olympic Games, through high jumper Zhu Jianhua in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

Zhu, then world record holder, disappointed the Chinese by winning only the bronze.

"Nobody from the whole Asia has ever won a medal in the event," he said. "So I think winning a medal of any color will be a great breakthrough."