LiuXiangquits110mhurdles
LiuXiang'sdreamofdefendinghisOlympictitleonhomesoilendedonMondaywhenhefailedtostarthisfirst-roundheatinthe110metreshurdles.
Liu,theworldchampionandthehostnation'sbesthopeofanathleticsgoldmedalattheBeijingOlympics,pulledupafterafalsestartandhobbleddownthetunneltoleavetheBird'sNeststadiuminstunnedsilence.
Hewasclearlyoutofsortsandgrimacedinpainashewentdownintotheblocks.
Afterafalsestart,hestumbledforwardforafewpacesobviouslyhinderedbytheinjurytohisrightlegbeforewalkingawayandleavingapackedBird'sNeststadiuminstunnedsilence.
"LiuXianghastwoinjuries,onetohisAchillesandoneinhisleg.Oneoftheinjuriesisanoldinjury,"histearfulcoachandmentorSunHaipingtoldanewsconference."
It'stheendoftheAchillestendoninhisrightfoot,"headded."Hewillbebackforsure."
TheChinaathleticsteam'sheadcoachFengShuyongsaid25-year-oldLiuhadsustainedtheinjuryintrainingonSaturday.
"Thismorninghefeltthepainintensify,"hesaid."Eventhoughhefeltthepainhedecidedtocompeteinthefirstheat."
Liuwouldnotwithdrawunlessthepainwasintolerableandtherewasnootherwayout."
AlongwithbasketballplayerYaoMing,LiuisChina'sfavouritesportsmanandtherewasahugeweightofexpectationonhimtorepeathistriumphof2004,whenhebecamehiscountry'sfirstmaleOlympicchampiononthetrack.
"Ijustsawhimoutsideandheisverydisappointed,"Fengadded."Wehavedoneeverythingwecan.
