Liu Xiang of China (L) crosses a hurdle to win the 110 metres hurdles event at the IAAF World Athletics Final in Stuttgart on September 9, 2006. Liu won the race ahead of Dayron Robles of Cuba.  (Photo: ChinaDaily.com)

Liu Xiang of China (L) crosses a hurdle to win the 110 metres hurdles event at the IAAF World Athletics Final in Stuttgart on September 9, 2006. Liu won the race ahead of Dayron Robles of Cuba. 

Liu Xiang stole the show on day one of the fourth edition of the IAAF World Athletics Final (WAF) in Stuttgart, Germany Saturday, when sprinting to a winning 12.93 seconds, a WAF record in the men's 110m hurdles.

Liu Xiang's victory was the third fastest time of his career, and his triumph triggered the waving of dozens of huge national flags by the hundreds of Chinese fans who had stationed themselves at the end of the 110m straight.

The Olympic champion and world record holder has only run faster when setting his two world records, in Lausanne this summer (12.88) and when taking his Olympic crown in Athens (12.91) in 2004.

The stadium, where at the 1993 World Championships Colin Jackson had set the original 12.91 world record, which the Chinese star later equaled, also inspired young Cuban sensation Dayron Robles who tied Anier Garcia's national record with 13.00, and so edged out four-time world champion Allen Johnson who capped his successful second part of 2006 with 13.01, a new seasonal best.

"The fantastic crowd, the nice atmosphere gave me a lot of confidence," said Liu Xiang whose start was electric, a reaction time of 0.108.

"I knew I was in good shape, so the time does not surprise me. The number of Chinese supporters in the stadium was a nice surprise," Liu said.

"After my world record (12.88 in Lausanne) I returned to Beijing and got a lot of rest," Liu added.

Liu promised more of the same at the World Cup in Athens this weekend.

"The World Cup has been my end of season objective and that is why I didn't give it my all," said the 23-year-old Olympic champion.

Editor: Donald