Liu fever is back at Asian athletic championships

The Asian Games in Guangzhou kick off tomorrow and everyone's eyes are on China's perennial favorite hurdler Liu Xiang's 110m hurdle, where he's expected to sweep the gold. After his second-place (but really tied for first) performance at the Golden Grand Prix, and his recent win at the National Games victory seems likely tomorrow night.

We all remember the disappointment after he walked out of the Beijing Olympics, , but he's back in action with a reparied tendon , trying to take it easy since surgery. Let's hope it's been an adequate time, otherwise imagine the outcry over an early, but plausible, retirement.

If Liu wins gold at both the Asian games and next year's World Cup in Croatia, he'll be bestowed the title of "grand slam" champion, and will be the second hurdler to ever get it.

As 110m hurdle champion Bayron Robles noted, "Liu's presence makes things more interesting. He gives a higher level to the 110m hurdles, he makes it more attractive”." The first heat is tomorrow night and the finals will be Thursday night: get ready for mass celebrations and excitement if he sweeps the gold.

Picture from Xinhua