Thunderous roars were silenced and millions of sports fans glued to television screens were left stunned when Liu Xiang, China's biggest hope for an athletics gold medal, limped out of the National Stadium this morning.
His withdrawal from the 110 meters hurdles, which left millions of fans heartbroken and in tears, was the last thing the 25-year-old reigning Olympic gold medalist would have done if his pain was not "intolerable," Feng Shuyong, head of the Chinese athletics team, told a news conference in Beijing.
Liu will not compete again this year so that he can get proper treatment for his injury but he will "definitely come back to the track," according to Feng. |