Athletics: Robles wins after Liu disqualification

STOCKHOLM: Cuba’s Dayron Robles powered to victory after rival Liu Xiang was disqualified for a false start in the 60-metre (m) hurdles at the XL Galan meeting in Stockholm. Liu, the 2004 Olympics high hurdles champion, jumped the gun having already stood up from the blocks once when he was unsettled by the noise of the crowd. The Chinese athlete immediately left the track without waiting for confirmation of disqualification. Robles, who won in 7.66 seconds, lost to Liu in Birmingham last weekend in the pair’s first meeting since the Cuban was disqualified for obstructing his rival in the final of the 110m hurdles at the 2011 world championships.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 25^th, 2012.