Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang said tha the feels no pressure before Friday's finals.

The 21-year-old, bronze medalist in last year's world championships, qualified for the last eight by finishing second inheat 1 of the semifinals in 13.17 seconds.

He apparently could have run better since he eased up in the final meters.

"There's no pressure for me," said the Shanghai-born hurdler, who was competing in his first Olympics.

"My goal is to enter the last eight," he said. "After that, anything can happen."

He said the results in the first three rounds were "meaningless" because nobody has done their utmost.

"I did not try my best in the semifinals, nor did other competitors," he said. "But I will try my best in Friday's final."

"I feel a little bit tired and I want to have a good rest," he said.

France's Doucoure fastest in men's 110m semifinals

France's Ladji Doucoure led the field into the finals of the men's 110m hurdles at the Olympic Games in Athens on August 26.

The 21-year-old clocked 13.06 seconds to win heat 2. Defending champion Anier Garcia of Cuba also qualified by finishing third in the heat in 13.30.

American Terrence Trammell was second in the heat in 13.17.

China's Liu Xiang eased up in the final meters and advanced in 13.18 in heat one. Jamaica's Christopher Pinnock won the heat in 13.17.