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Liu Xiang retains Asiad title as Chinese gold machine revs up
  12-13 02:40
 

    DOHA, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Olympic champion and world record holder Liu Xiang stormed to a stylish victory in the men's 110 meter hurdles on Tuesday, inspiring a Chinese gold harvest in the last day of athletics events at the Asian Games.

    The 23-year-old Liu, who shattered the world record when he clocked 12.88 seconds at an IAAF meet in Lausanne in July this year, finished in a Games record of 13.15 to retain his Asiad title. Four years ago, he won the 110m hurdles in 13.27.

China's Liu Xiang competes during the men's 110m hurdles final of athletics at Doha Asiad, Qatar, Dec. 12, 2006. Liu Xiang claimed the title with a time of 13.15 seconds. (Xinhua Photo/Yang Shiyao)
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    His teammate Shi Dongpeng took silver with a personal best time of 13.28, and Japan's Masato Naito had bronze in 13.60.

    "I didn't expect myself to run so fast, the time of 13.20 was a pretty good result," said a flag-draped Liu after the race.

    "The standard of the men's 110m hurdles at this Games was much higher than that in Busan," he added.

    In addition to Liu's victory, China won three other events to increase its total tally of gold medals to 14, equaling its record in Busan four years ago.

Gao Shuying of China jubilates during the awarding ceremony of the women's pole vault final at Doha Asiad, Dec. 12, 2006. Gao won the gold medal with a result of 4.30 meters. (Xinhua Photo/Wang Lili)(wqq/why)

Gao Shuying of China jubilates during the awarding ceremony of the women's pole vault final at Doha Asiad, Dec. 12, 2006. Gao won the gold medal with a result of 4.30 meters. (Xinhua Photo/Wang Lili)
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    Asian record holder Gao Shuying underlined her status as the continent's No. 1 in women's pole vault as the 27-year-old Chinese cleared a height of 4.30 meters to retain her title. Malaysia's Samsu Roslinda took silver and the bronze went to Japanese Ikuko Nishikori.

(L to R) Roman Valiyev of Kazakhstan (silver), Li Yanxi of China (gold) and Kim Deok-Hyeon of South Korea (bronze) attend the awarding ceremony of men's triple jump final at Doha Asiad, Dec. 12, 2006. (Xinhua Photo/Wang Lili)(wqq/why)

(L to R) Roman Valiyev of Kazakhstan (silver), Li Yanxi of China (gold) and Kim Deok-Hyeon of South Korea (bronze) attend the awarding ceremony of men's triple jump final at Doha Asiad, Dec. 12, 2006. (Xinhua Photo/Wang Lili)
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    Li Yanxi, making his debut in the Asian Games, claimed gold in the men's triple jump with a personal best leap of 17.06 meters, ahead of Kazakhstan's Roman Valiyev (16.98m) and Kim Deok-Hyeon (16.87m).

(L to R) Roman Valiyev of Kazakhstan (silver), Li Yanxi of China (gold) and Kim Deok-Hyeon of South Korea (bronze) attend the awarding ceremony of men's triple jump final at Doha Asiad, Dec. 12, 2006. (Xinhua Photo/Wang Lili)
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    Qin Wangping then anchored the Chinese women's relay team to victory in the 4x100m final, clocking 44.38 seconds. Japan came second in 44.87 while Chinese Taipei was third in 45.86.

    In the men's 4x100m relay, unfancied Thailand defeated favorites Japan in a photo finish for the gold medal. Both teams were timed 39.21 seconds, while China finished a disappointing third place in 39.62.

    Bahrain's Maryam Yusuf Jamal won the women's 1,500m making it a golden double following her victory in the 800m on Saturday. The 23-year old former Ethiopian, who has enjoyed an impressive season this year with victories in the World Athletics Final in Stuttgart and the IAAF World Cup in Athens, was in a class of her own as she finished in 4:08.63, more than six seconds ahead of Japanese runner-up Yuriko Kobayashi.

    Qatar's James Kwalia C Kurui delighted home fans as the 20-year-old former Kenyan won the men's 5,000m final in 13:38.90, followed by Bahrain's Mucheru Salem Jawher and another Qatari Sultan Khamis Zaman.

    Manjeet Kaur led an India quartet to a come-from-behind victory in the women's 4x400m relay final, clocked a winning time of 3 minutes 32.95 seconds.

    Kazakhstan grabbed silver in 3:33.86, while China had to settle for the third place in 3:33.92 after leading for the first three legs.

    Saudi Arabia emerged as the winner of the men's 4x400m relay, the last event of the six-day athletics competition, in 3:05.31. India and Sri Lanka finished second and third respectively.

    Although Liu Xiang was one of the few world class athlete in track and field events after Japan's Olympic hammer throw champion Koji Murobushi and two-time world 3,000 steeplechase champion Saif Saaeed Shaheen of Qatar pulled out due to injuries, only a few hundred spectators turned out at the Khalifa Stadium to watch the 23-year-old Shanghai native demolish his rivals in the final.

    Liu said he was very satisfied with his performance in the 2006season, which saw him win eight out of 10 international competitions.

China's Liu Xiang waves after the men's 110m hurdles final of athletics at Doha Asiad, Qatar, Dec. 12, 2006. Liu Xiang claimed the title with a time of 13.15 seconds. (Xinhua Photo/Wang Lei)
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    "This year was another peak for me following the Athens Olympic Games," he said.

    Liu shocked the world in Athens 2004 when he won the Olympic gold medal with a then world-record-tying time of 12.91 seconds.

    Liu's coach Sun Haiping said he was also delighted with the results.

    "Liu's time was under 13.20, and Shi gave his best ever running, so I am extremely satisfied," said Sun.

    Heavily favored to win this last race of this season, Liu had set a modest target of 13.20 before the Asian Games.

    Related:

    China wins women's 4X100m relay gold at Doha Asiad

DOHA, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- China won the gold medal of women's 4X100m relay at the 15th Asian Games here on Tuesday. China clocked a winning time of 44.33 seconds for the title, followed by Japan and Thailand in the second and third places respectively.

    China's Gao wins women's pole vault title at Doha Asiad

    DOHA, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Gao Shuying excelled to bag the women's pole vault crown at the Asian Games athletics finals here on Tuesday.

    China beats S. Korea to reach Asiad men's basketball semis

    DOHA, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Asian champion China beat defending Asiad champion South Korea 68-52 here on Tuesday to reach the final of the Doha Asian Games men's basketball tournament. With the hard-fought victory, the Chinese gained a sweet revenge four years after losing to South Korea 102-100 in an over-time thriller in the final of the Busan Games.

    China wins women's volleyball gold at Doha Asian Games

    DOHA, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese women volleyballers waltzed through the Asiad gold medal match against Japan, beating their arch rivals 22-25, 25-10, 25-23 and 25-16 to take home their third consecutive Asiad's gold medal here on Tuesday. It is the fourth time for the two Asian powerhouses to meet in Asiad's final, with their last head-to-head final in Seoul in 1986when China bagged the gold medal.

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