His third-place finish in a 60 metres hurdles heat put him in tomorrow’s semi-final but the former world outdoor record holder cast doubt on his ability to make the podium.
“It’s impossible for me to get a medal,” Liu said through a translator after running 7.79 seconds in his first international championship since an Achilles tendon injury forced him out of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
“The tendon is sore,” said Liu, whose time was only the 15th fastest of the day. “There is no power.
“I only want to go to the final,” said the 2004 Olympic champion.
Americans David Oliver and Terrence Trammell ran 7.60 seconds to lead qualifying. Cuban favourite Dayron Robles was seventh fastest at 7.74 seconds.
Liu said the return to world championship running after 19 months brought no special feeling.
“It felt very familiar. I felt very relaxed,” he said while appearing fidgety as he talked to reporters.
TENSE TIME
Russian pole vault queen Yelena Isinbayeva also had some anxious moments, needing her third and final attempt at 4.55 metres to qualify.
“But I managed and am now looking forward to the final with the aim to win and break the world record,” said Isinbayeva, whose struggles brought back memories of last year’s world outdoor championships where she failed to register a mark.
Britain’s European champion Dwain Chambers showed he was the man to beat in the men’s 60 metres, clocking the fastest time of 6.59 seconds in his opening race.
“I did not show 100 percent of me,” said Chambers, who became the favourite when U.S. champion Ivory Williams tested positive for marijuana and was declared ineligible for the championships.
“It is not about doing big things in the heats but in the final,” added the 2008 silver medallist.
EQUIPMENT PROBLEMS
Australian Olympic and world champion Steve Hooker turned his first indoor pole vault of the year into an easy qualifier, joining eight others in today’s final by clearing 5.60 on his only attempt.
France’s Renaud Lavillenie, the year’s top indoor vaulter, was not in the group.
The world outdoor bronze medallist failed three times at the qualifying height.
Hooker said he was fortunate to vault before problems with one of the standards on which the bar rests delayed the competition.
“Anyone that had to jump after that, it made it very challenging,” Hooker said. “I really feel for those guys.”
Heavily favoured defending women’s high jump champion Blanka Vlasic of Croatia advanced smoothly, clearing all three heights she attempted.
Men’s shot put holder American Christian Cantwell joined qualifying leader Ralf Bartels of Germany in today’s final.
Bartels, the 2006 European champion, had a heave of 20.91 metres on his second attempt while Cantwell threw only once, reaching 20.72 to meet the automatic qualifying standard.
