Backgrounder: chronology of injuries of China's champion hurdler Liu Xiang

Photos: Liu Xiang pulls out with injury  

    BEIJING, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese celebrity hurdler Liu Xiang said on state television that he feels "very sorry" for his injury-forced withdrawal from the Olympic Games and vowed he will come back.

    "So many people have been worried and caring about me. I feel sorry. I could do nothing but pull out of the race," Liu told Chinese state television CCTV Monday night, which aired a partial interview with Liu Tuesday morning.

    Liu, world and Olympic champion, pulled out of the 110m hurdles qualifying heats because of a worsened tendon injury in his right foot, dashing China's only gold hope in Olympic track.

    "I didn't feel right when I was warming up before the race," said Liu. "I knew my foot would fail me. I felt painful when I was just jogging," said Liu.

    "Two weeks ago, I ran a 12.90-something. I didn't know why things turned out this way. I wanted to hang on. But I couldn't. It was unbearable. If I had finished the race, I would have risked my tendon. I could not describe my feeling at that moment."

    Liu said he is a man who never easily quits.

    "I am not that type of person. I never quit easily. I believe I will come back," said Liu.  

Liu Xiang: I really don't want to quit         "I feel very sad. I really don't want to quit," said Liu Xiang after he pulled out of the Olympic 110m hurdles first round because of the tendon injury to the right foot on Monday morning.  Full story

IAAF spokesperson: wish Liu best luck and coming back soon      "I am a hundred percent sure that Liu came through a lot pain to quit the competition," said Anna Legnani, spokesperson and deputy director of communications of International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).  Full story

Liu Xiang quits games, but never out     Online reaction was swift and supportive. "We support you, you are still the best." "You have tried your best. You are still the champion." "I wish you will be fine soon" read some comments posted on the website of Xinhua News Agency. Full story

Olympic 110m hurdles becomes less charismatic without Liu, Trammell         The quit of both defending champion Liu Xiang and silver medalist Terrence Trammell made the competition less charismatic. Full story

Liu's coach breaks down in press conference          Liu Xiang's head coach Sun Haiping broke into tears in the press conference while hailing his student as a "fighter". Full story

Achilles heel forces Liu out of Olympics      Sun Haiping said Liu Xiang has been suffering from the Achilles' heel injury for six to seven years.   Full story

Liu Xiang is a fighter, said athletics chief      "If his injury weren't so serious, he would never, ever have quit," said Feng Shuyong, deputy director of the Chinese athletics administrative center and head coach of the Chinese team.  Full story

Athletics chief: People can understand the situation       "I believe all the Chinese people can understand the situation," said Feng Shuyong, deputy director of the Chinese athletics administrative center and head coach of the Chinese team.Full story China head coach talks about Liu's quit      Head coach of the Chinese athletic team Feng Shuyong said he was very upset about Liu Xiang's quit from the Olympic men's 110m hurdles Monday morning.  Full story Mentor: Liu Xiang fights his fortune     Mentor of defending Olympic champion Liu Xiang said Monday morning that his pupil was fighting his fortune as warming up into the first round of the Olympic men's 110m hurdles heats.  Full story

Backgrounder: chronology of injuries of China's champion hurdler Liu Xiang     The following is a brief chronology of injuries suffered by Liu Xiang, the Olympic champion for men's 110m hurdles at the Athens Olympics. Full story