Athletics: Coach allays injury doubts over Liu
Back problem that forced the withdrawal does not pose any threat to his Olympic campaign.
LONDON:
Liu Xiang’s pullout from the final of the 110 metres hurdles at the London Grand Prix was just a precautionary measure and the back problem that forced the withdrawal does not pose any threat to his Olympic campaign, according to his coach Sun Haiping. “It’s just a slight problem,” said Haiping. “Liu felt a little uncomfortable in his back after the heat round. We decided to pull out of the finals just for the sake of caution. Liu could have finished the race but we thought that it was unnecessary in this event. He will be sure to fight to the end in the Olympic Games.” One of China’s highest-profile athletes, Liu won gold in Athens eight years ago but injury robbed him of the chance to defend his title on home soil in 2008.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 16th, 2012.
Liu Xiang’s pullout from the final of the 110 metres hurdles at the London Grand Prix was just a precautionary measure and the back problem that forced the withdrawal does not pose any threat to his Olympic campaign, according to his coach Sun Haiping. “It’s just a slight problem,” said Haiping. “Liu felt a little uncomfortable in his back after the heat round. We decided to pull out of the finals just for the sake of caution. Liu could have finished the race but we thought that it was unnecessary in this event. He will be sure to fight to the end in the Olympic Games.” One of China’s highest-profile athletes, Liu won gold in Athens eight years ago but injury robbed him of the chance to defend his title on home soil in 2008.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 16th, 2012.