China's Liu Xiang (L) clears a hurdle to win his heat of the men's 110m hurdles at the Osaka Athletics World Championships, Wednesday August. 29, 2007.
Liu Xiang, world record holder of the men's 110m hurdles, took the lead in the second heat of the men's 110m hurdles with a record of 13.36 seconds on Wednesday morning.
Liu, having just recovered from a fever, satisfied his coach Sun Haiping's prediction of 13.40 seconds and stormed into the semifinals.
This is the sixth time Liu has competed in Osaka -- Liu's lucky place -- where he has a win-all record, including winning the gold in the 2007 Osaka World Athletics Tour in May and at the 2001 East Asian Games.
Running in Osaka's humidity, Liu dismissed the negative weather and said everyone competed under the same conditions.
Regarding the sudden absence of Dominique Arnold (USA), the 24-year-old Liu said a good performance comes from one's own effort, not from other's absence.
In addition to Arnold, Liu's strong rivals also include French defending champion Ladji Doucoure and Cuban prodigy Dayron Robles. The former's personal best is 13.06 seconds in 2004, and the latter's is 13 seconds in 2006.
Liu's compatriot Shi Dongpeng clocked a new personal best of 13.20 seconds and stormed into the semifinals in first place in the fifth heat.
The semifinals will be held on Thursday night in Osaka.
Chinese Shi Dongpeng competes to win his heat of the men's 110m hurdles at the Osaka Athletics World Championships, Wednesday August. 29, 2007.
