Led by Liu, China targets track glory in Guangzhou

HONG KONG — The last time an event of such scale was held in China, Liu Xiang limped off the track without starting a race, leaving a packed Birds Nest stadium in stunned silence and a host nation bewildered. Liu made it onto the blocks for the 110-meter hurdles at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but withdrew suddenly before the start due to lingering concerns over his injured right Achilles. The then world and Olympic champion had been promoted as the face of the games and his absence from the podium finished up being one of only a few minor setbacks for the hosts. Liu comes into the Asian Games in Guangzhou as the two-time defending Asiad champion. His injury has been more closely catalogued and acknowledged this time, but he's hoping for some retribution for his Olympic disappointment. "I want to come first in my third Asian Games and win a gold medal for the Chinese team," Liu told the domestic media last week. "My foot is still a little sore, but my reflexes are much better than before. Overall, I feel quite good, but I think I still have room for improvement." He's predicting a modest time of around 13.30 seconds — a time well short of his Asian record of 12.88 set in July 2006, which was the world record until Cuba's Dayron Robles lowered it in 2008. China is aiming for top spot in track and field, which offers 47 gold medals, and expects most competition to come from Japan and Bahrain. China led the medal count in athletics at Doha four years ago with 14 gold. But for most of the Chinese track and field athletes, it's a chance to shine at home in a sport where unlike diving, badminton or table tennis, they are not world leaders. Two years ago at the Beijing Olympics, China managed only two bronze medals — in the women's marathon and the women's hammer throw. Liu is again facing high expectations. But gold is no foregone conclusion at the 80,000-seat Guangdong stadium. The hurdler has struggled this year, finishing seventh in the 60 meters event at the world indoor championships in March, where rival Robles prevailed. He pulled out of the Osaka Grand Prix in May after his foot injury flared up. Returning at the Diamond League meet in Shanghai later that month, he only managed third place in 13.40 seconds. American David Oliver won, with another Chinese athlete, Shi Dongpeng, taking second place. Besides Liu and Shi, other likely Chinese medalists in Guangzhou include pole vaulter Yang Yansheng, who set an Asian season-best of 5.75 meters in August, and long jumper Su Xiongfeng, also a regional leader this year with a mark of 8.17 meters. In women's events, Chinese competitors who have posted top Asian results this year include pole vaulter Li Caixia, Zhang Wenxiu in the hammer throw, javelin thrower Xue Juan and discus thrower Li Yanfeng, who won at the Continental Cup in Split, Croatia in September with a distance of 63.79 meters. Japan's hopes will be boosted by javelin star Yukifumi Murakami, who is also serving as captain of the overall delegation. The bronze medalist at last year's world championships in Berlin is aiming for his first Asian Games gold after finishing second at the two previous editions. Japanese sprinters have recorded the best Asian times this year in both the men's and women's 100 meters and 200 meters. Masashi Eriguchi is a top candidate for bragging rights as Asia's fastest man and will anchor the country's 4x100 meter relay team. Chisato Fukushima will vie for a sweep of the two women's sprints. In other men's events, Japan has high hopes for Kenji Narisako in the 400-meter hurdles and Kensuke Takezawa in the 10,000. Persian Gulf nation Bahrain, which finished second in the track medals standings in 2006, is aiming to dominate in the mid-distance events. Bahrain's stalwarts include Bilal Mansour Ali and Youssef Saad Kamel, who are competing in both the men's 800 meters and 1,500 meters, as well as Maryam Yusuf Jamal, their female counterpart in the same two events. India's Mandeep Kaur and Tintu Luka are leading contenders for gold in the women's 400 meters and 800 meters. – AP