Robles faces China’s wrath as he targets Liu Xiang

PARIS: Cuban Dayron Robles heads to the Beijing Olympics as a main medal contender in the men's 110m hurdles, an event in which his main rival will be home favourite and defending champion Liu Xiang. The Guantanamo-born athlete has emerged as the outstanding hurdler so far this season despite a beginner's mistake that saw him fail to qualify for the semi-finals of the world indoor championships in Valencia in March. Having come close to breaking Welshman Colin Jackson's indoor world record, Robles ended a superb indoor campaign on a sad note in Spain when he pulled up, thinking Liu Xiang had made a false start. “I learned many things from Valencia,” the spectacles-toting 21-year-old admitted. “I learned that every race needs a very good, if not a perfect concentration. Even if it's an easy race, you have to take every race as... [read full story]