Brathwaite, Robles breathe easier over Xiang’s challenge

SHANGHAI, China, CMC – Ryan Brathwaite and Dayron Robles can prepare for the IAAF Diamond League a little easier, following the disclosure that Liu Xiang’s coach feels he is still to reach his peak fitness.

Barbadian Brathwaite won the World Championship gold medal in the men’s 110 metres hurdles last year in Berlin in the absence of both the Cuban Robles and Xiang of China.

Robles, the reigning Olympic champion and World record-holder, withdrew from the hurdles at the semifinal stage in Berlin with a hamstring injury, and Xiang was a no-show at the Championship because of a long-term Achilles tendon injury.

Robles has made a triumphant return to competition this year, when he won the sprint hurdles at the World Indoor Championships last month in Doha, Qatar.
But Xiang is still to fully regain his best form, which propelled him to the Olympic title six years ago in Athens, and the World title three years later in Osaka.

With this year’s Shanghai leg of the Diamond League a little more than a month away on May 23, Xiang coach has played down hopes of the Chinese superstar being able to best 13 seconds in his latest comeback.

“It’s impossible (for him to run within 13 seconds right now),” Sun Haiping said during a news conference on Monday to promote the Shanghai meet. “We firstly have to make sure his physical condition is sound.”

Xiang returned from injury last September at the IAAF Shanghai Golden Grand Prix with a second-place finish in 13.15 seconds, but he has suffered a number of minor setbacks with the same injury since then.

Sun believes Liu’s chances should improve later in the year: “I think it will be much better after the weather gets hot.”
The Diamond League circuit starts on May 14 in Doha and culminates in Brussels on August 27.