China's Olympic champion and world record holder Liu Xiang beat his arch rival Allen Johnson from the United States again and won the men's 110m hurdles final in 13.14 seconds in South Korea's Deagu Athletics Meeting on Thursday.

Johnson, 35, followed Liu, 23, in 13.16 seconds while another U.S. hurdler Aries Merritt finished third in 13.36 senconds.

"Liu had a good start today," said Liu's coach Sun Haiping.

"I'm satisfied with Liu's performance as he won the champion despite tiredness due to rencent competetions," Sun told Xinhua.

Liu, who set the new world record of 12.88 seconds in Switzerland in July, was then beaten by Johnson in the Athens World Cup but rallied to overtake the American in Shanghai Grand Prix last Saturday to clinch the title.

Liu topped the IAAF rankings for 110m hurdles after taking the silver in Athens World Cup and is maintaining the advantage now.

Editor: Donald