Bolt wins as Shanghai cheers on Liu Xiang

World and Olympic triple gold medallist Usain Bolt launched his IAAF Diamond League campaign in Shanghai yesterday with a comfortable 200m win in 19.76 seconds.

Bolt, who holds the world record of 19.19, was the only man to break the 20-second barrier, with American Angelo Taylor second in 20.34 followed by American Ryan Bailey in 20.43.

"It was a good run, the feeling was good but it was not easy. I am not in the best shape but enjoyed it," Bolt said.

Bolt and Chinese hurdling star Liu Xiang were highlight attractions at the second stop of the 14-event Diamond League competition.

It was Bolt's first race in China since his triple-gold Olympic performance at the 2008 Beijing Games and the crowd roared him on as he jogged a victory lap around the stadium.

The 100m and 200m world record holder is being pursued by American Tyson Gay and fellow Jamaican Asafa Powell, who have both made it clear they aim to beat him this year.

Bolt's 200m race in Shanghai helps set the stage for three upcoming Diamond League showdowns with Gay, who fired a new warning in Bolt's direction by shattering the 44-year-old straight line 200m world record on May 18.

Ecstatic fans

Fans screamed as Chinese star Liu stepped on to the track for the men's 110m hurdles. Liu, who complained of pain in his Achilles tendon before the race, defied his own expectations with a third-place finish of 13.40 seconds.

American David Oliver won the race with the fastest time of the season at 12.99 and China's Shi Dongpeng was second at 13.39.

Liu, who became the first Chinese man to win Olympics track and field gold at the 2004 Athens Games, is striving for his one-time record-breaking form after an Achilles heel injury.

US sprinter Carmelita Jeter continued her women's 100m winning streak with a time of 11.09 seconds. World champion Shelly-Ann Fraser, of Jamaica, came second finishing in 11.29 seconds.

The Diamond League awards points depending on performances throughout the 14-event programme with the winners of the 16 meets taking home a diamond trophy and a cash prize.

For next round, the Diamond League moves to Oslo for its first European stop on June 4.