Liu rules out world record bid

Former Olympic champion hurdler Liu Xiang insisted yesterday that reclaiming his world record on Asian Games home turf was not his top priority as he continues to battle back from injury. The 27-year-old is seeking his third Asiad title at the Guangzhou Games.

Despite numerous races over the last year, he has not returned to the same explosive form that won him an Olympic gold in Athens in 2004 and carried him to a world record two years later.

“I’m looking to finish in the top... I hope to win the championship,” Liu told Shanghai’s Oriental Sports Daily.

“Whenever I can reach the top three in the world, or whenever I can break the world record, that is when I will have recovered (from injury).”

Liu and his coaches believe that a time of 13.30 seconds in next Wednesday’s final should be enough to win the gold medal, the paper said. His closest rival is team-mate Shi Dongpeng, who beat Liu for the first time ever in May with a time of 13.39 seconds, Shi’s personal best.

“Right now, I don’t feel any pressure, so this is good for me,” Liu said.

“If I can run within 13.30 seconds, then I will be satisfied.”

Liu’s best time in the event is 12.88 seconds run in 2006. Cuban Dayron Robles bettered that in 2008, setting the world record of 12.87.