PAGE 16 • AUGUST 16, 2011 DAILY LEADING LIGHT Xiang returns to his starting line HURDLER LIGHTS THE CAULDRON AT , WHERE HIS CAREER BEGAN 10 YEARS AGO

By LEI LEI AND TANG ZHE

SHENZHEN — China’s star hur- dler, , will never forget the Universiade that took place 10 years ago. It was then and there that the 18-year-old clinched his fi rst world title in the men’s 110m hurdles. From there, he went on to make history by breaking Asian and world records and scooping up Olympic and world championship gold medals along the way.

Ten years ago, I was very ex- cited to take my fi rst title in an international major event. The ‘‘ competition was very fi erce at that time. When I dashed to win the race, I was very excited. It was where my dream started.” LIU XIANG PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY CHINESE TRACK STAR China track star Liu Xiang, who lit the cauldron with four students at the opening ceremony of the Shenzhen games, says the Universiade 10 years ago in Beijing was where his dream started.

“Ten years ago, I was very excited He became the country’s super- Public expectations began to FACTBOX to take my fi rst title in an interna- star athlete when he set a world rise again. But Liu was under- tional major event,” Liu said. record of 12.88 sec at a super grand whelming at the National Games Date of birth: July 3, 1983 (age Silver 2005 “Th e competition was very fi erce prix meet in in 2006. and Asian Championships that 28) Bronze 2003 at that time. When I dashed to win Th e record was beaten by a hun- followed, despite claiming both Birth place: , China World Indoor Championships the race, I was very excited. It was dredth of a second by Cuban Day- titles. Height: 1.89m Gold 2008 60m hurdles where my dream started.” ron Robles two months before the In March 2010, he only man- Weight: 74kg Liu’s dream came full circle a 2008 Beijing Olympics. aged a seventh-place fi nish in the Silver 2004 60m hurdles decade later, when he lit the stadi- Th e country was shocked when 60m hurdles at the World Indoor Event: 110m hurdles um cauldron with four students at a foot injury forced Liu to with- Championships. He claimed a Bronze 2003 60m hurdles the opening ceremony of the 26th draw from the fi rst round of the bronze at the Diamond League ACHIEVEMENTS Summer Universiade in Shenzhen event at the Beijing Games. meet in Shanghai in May, where on Friday. Liu experienced ups and downs he clocked 13.40 and was beaten by Gold 2004 Gold 2010 “I’m very happy because it is in competitions aft er undergoing teammate . World Championships Gold 2006 my fi rst time lighting a cauldron, foot surgery in the US, peaking at At the Guangzhou Asiad, he fi n- Gold 2007 Gold 2002 although I was not the only one to the Guangzhou Asian Games last ished in 13.09 to appease his fans and do it,” Liu said. November. put the past behind him. “I always reminded myself not Liu’s fi rst race aft er the Olym- Liu started to experiment with Shanghai on Sunday night, clock- “I was crowned at the Athens to make any mistakes. I had to pics — the Shanghai Golden a new starting technique early this ing a solid 13.07. Olympics, but I am still eager to remember where to stop, who to Grand Prix in September 2009 year — taking seven steps to the The Olympic Games regain the champion’s title in Lon- wave to the audience and where — suggested he had enough fi re first hurdle instead of his usual is Liu’s ultimate goal. Th e biggest don. I want a good result, and I’ll to light the fi re. Th e whole process in his belly to climb back to the eight. challenge this year will be the try my best.” had to be smooth.” top. The Shanghai native ran a Using the new method, the World Championships in , Liu said the Daegu World Cham- Liu rose to fame as China’s fi rst wind-aided 13.15, but was nar- champion hurdler disrupted , later this month. pionships, starting on Aug 27, will major track star when he won the rowly beaten by then world No 2 American ’s 18-race “Th e London Olympics in 2012 be his most important competition Olympic gold medal in Athens in of the United winning streak in the 110m event will surely be the last Olympic this year, and his goal is to “enter the 2004. States. at the Diamond League meet in Games in my sports career,” Liu said. fi nal and then strive for a medal”.