Liu sets new Asian Championships record

Chinese star hurdler Liu Xiang set a new Asian Athletics Championships record in the 110-metre hurdles on Sunday in Kobe to successfully defend his title with something to spare. The former world record holder, who turns 28 on Wednesday, clocked a new championship best time of 13.22 seconds to beat his compatriot Shi Dongpeng, who came home in 13.56, and Park Taek-Yong of South Korea in 13.66.

It was a repeat performance of the Asian Games last year, when the three finished in the same places.

It was the injury-prone Liu’s fourth victory out of four Asian championships, following triumphs in 2002, 2005 and 2009.

In the women’s 200m, Japan’s Chisato Fukushima added another continental title to her Asian Games gold medal when she finished first in 23.49 seconds.

Gretta Taslakian of Lebanon was second in 24.01 and Saori Imai of Japan third in 24.06.

“I’m happy to win the title, but this is not good enough for the world championships,” admitted Fukushima, who became only the fourth sprinter to win both the Asian Games and the Asian Championships.

AFP