Despite lacking the 110m hurdles closing within the Tokyo World Athletics Championships, China’s rising athletes present promise, with coach Sun Haiping optimistic a few breakthrough by the 2028 Olympics.
TOKYO, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) — 18 years after Liu Xiang’s historic victory within the males’s 110m hurdles on the Osaka World Championships, China continues to be ready for an additional athlete to comply with in his footsteps.
In the summer season of 2007, Liu claimed his solely world title in 12.95 seconds, additional cementing his standing as certainly one of China’s best observe and subject stars.
On Monday night time in Tokyo, three Chinese hurdlers reached the semifinals, however none managed to advance to Tuesday’s closing. Liu Junxi positioned fifth in Heat 1 with 13.40 seconds, Xu Zhuoyi completed sixth in Heat 2 with 13.34, whereas Chen Yuanjiang was fifth in Heat 3 in 13.32.
Their instances stay properly behind Liu Xiang’s former world report of 12.88 seconds, set in 2006, which nonetheless stands as each China and Asia’s greatest. That efficiency stays outstanding even immediately, quicker than the successful time of 12.99 seconds set by Cordell Tinch right here on Tuesday.
Xu, the reigning nationwide champion coached by Liu Xiang’s long-time mentor Sun Haiping, couldn’t maintain again tears after his race.
“I didn’t perform at my best,” he admitted. “I had expected to run inside 13.20, but I didn’t start well. I was too nervous to deliver my top form.”
Liu Xiang, who rose to international fame along with his gold medal on the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, grew to become a nationwide hero and an emblem of China’s athletics breakthrough. He went on to win silver on the 2005 Helsinki worlds and once more in Daegu in 2011, earlier than accidents pressured his retirement.
Sun, now 70, has continued guiding China’s new technology of hurdlers. While acknowledging the hole with world-class competitors, he expressed optimism. “Our top hurdlers are mostly running around 13.20 seconds or slightly below. With one or two years of hard work and refinement, they can return to the world elite level,” he mentioned.
Speaking of Chen Yuanjiang, a promising 19-year-old who stands 1.86 meters and exhibits sturdy explosiveness, Sun highlighted the significance of expertise. “Liu Xiang also had a big gap when he first competed internationally. Through repeated races, he narrowed the difference, built confidence, and eventually rose to the top.”
Sun added that China’s hurdlers may obtain breakthroughs by the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Chen, competing at his first World Championships, remained constructive. “I didn’t perform as well as I’d hoped, but the key is to maintain the right attitude, learn from this experience, and prepare for the next competition,” he mentioned.