FORMER Olympic 110 metres hurdles champion Liu Xiang will race in London for the first time at the Aviva London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace on July 13.The Chinese athlete, who leads the world rankings this year with a time of 12.97 seconds, will be attempting to become the first sprint hurdler to lose then regain the Olympic title this summer."I am really excited to be competing in London for the first time ever at the Aviva London Grand Prix. The event will be a great opportunity for me to experience the conditions and atmosphere of the Olympic host city just two weeks before the Games,” he said."This will be my last race before the Olympic Games so I will be looking for a very strong performance.

The London Diamond League will be the perfect race for me to complete my preparation as I challenge for a second Olympic gold medal this summer.”Liu won the Olympic title in Athens in 2004, but dramatically pulled out of the Beijing Games because of injury.