China’s Liu out again in Olympic 110 hurdles

LONDON–Former champion Liu Xiang’s Olympic misery continued when the Chinese athlete crashed at the first barrier in the 110m hurdles heats.Liu fell at the first hurdle before hopping down the track where he was embraced by his fellow competitors.Liu, 29, was an icon at the Beijing Games four years ago but managed just a few strides in the heats before pulling up with an Achilles injury. The former world record holder suffered injury problems going into London.He had his right Achilles taped before the race but American hurdler Aries Merritt saidLiu appeared to be fit. “I spoke to him before the competition and he was well,” said Merritt. “It’s a shame it happened to Liu.“I don’t think anything was wrong before the race. He looked OK. You make a mistake, you’re out of the game. It’s all about making the least amount of mistakes.”Liu, who won gold in Athens in 2004, had looked like he was returning to his best form at the World Championships in 2011 , where he finished second.Great Britain’s Andy Turner won the heat in 13.42 before helping Liu from the track. Turner’s team-mate Lawrence Clarke also qualified for the semi-finals but Andrew Pozzi was unable.Agencies

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China’s Liu out again in Olympic 110 hurdles