Liu Xiang celebrates his victory over 110m Hurdles at the 11th National Games in Jinan, China on 25 October 2009 (© AFP / Getty Images)
The athletics programme in 5th East Asian Games commences at Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground in Hong Kong on Thursday (10 Dec).
It is of no real surprise that China’s Liu Xiang, 2004 Olympic and 2007 World champion and former World record holder at the 110m Hurdles will be the star attraction of the four-day athletic competition.
Liu Xiang followed his second place competition opener in September's Shanghai GP, with a victory at the Chinese National Games in October, and then made a comeback to international championship action in last month’s Asian Championships at Guangzhou.
Dr. Tom Clantan, who performed a surgery on the ace Chinese hurdler for Achilles tendon in Houstan last year, has visited his Shanghai residence and cleared the athlete as fully fit for competition this week. Liu Xiang was victorious at the last two editions in 2001 (Osaka) and 2005 (Macao) of the East Asian Games, and is all set for his third gold in 110m Hurdles this Friday.
Liu Xiang is one of the seven athletes who are looking to defend their titles in Hong Kong.
The strong 52 member athletic squad from China also includes another four of the reigning East Asian Games champions: Hu Kai, the fastest man at Macao, and three women, 800m runner Liu Qing, 400m hurdler Huang Xiaoxiao and shot putter Li Meiju.
Japan's delegation includes the other two winners from Macao in 2005: the 400m runner Yoshihiro Horigome and hammer thrower Hiroaki Doi.
Overall the team from the People’s Republic of China is set to dominate proceedings in Hong Kong as its squad also includes three female Asian champions: Sun Yawei (100m Hurdles), Zhang Xingjuan (High Jump) and Liu Chunhua (Javelin Throw).
Ram. Murali Krishnan for the IAAF
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