Olympic champion and world record holder Liu Xiang from China jumps over a hurdle during the men's 110m hurdles event at the IAAF Japan Grand Prix in Osaka, Japan, May 5, 2007. Liu claimed the title with a time of 13.14 seconds and it is the fourth time Liu won the event. (Xinhua/Ren Zhenglai)

World champion Liu Xiang won his first outdoor 110m hurdles race this year with a comfortable time of 13"14 at the 2007 Osaka World Athletics Tour on Saturday.

The win was the Chinese athlete's fourth straight victory at the event. Compatriot Shi Dongpeng finished second with 13"24.

No athletes from the United States competed in the race, which pitted five Japanese athletes against three foreigners, including Liu and Shi.

A Japanese athlete jumped the gun at the start of the race, forcing a restart. Liu Xiang gained the lead after clearing the first three hurdles and successfully held his position all the way to the finishing line.

After his victory, Liu Xiang said he plans to go all-out at the 11th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, which will be held from 25 August to 2 September at the Nagai stadium.

The 24-year-old athlete set a new hurdles world record when he completed his race in 12"88 in Lausanne, Switzerland last July. He broke the former record of 12"91 set by Britain's Colin Jackson in 1993.

Editor: Donald