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Confident Robles cruises into 110m hurdles finals

(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-08-21 08:30

Dayron Robles of Cuba oozed confidence as he swept into the final of the 110m hurdles final yesterday.

With China's defending champion Liu Xiang having departed with an injury before his first heat, the 21-year-old world-record holder showed just why he is the favorite for gold by the winning the first semi-final in a canter.

Wearing his trade-mark spectacles and a huge gold crucifix around his neck, Robles got out of the blocks well and was quickly into his smooth rhythm, not grazing a single hurdle, and coasted home in 13.12 seconds.

"No problem. I'm very calm. I'll win the gold," Robles, who set his world mark of 12.87 in June, told reporters.

Americans are likely to present the strongest challenge to the Cuban in today's final.

David Payne finished second in the first race in 13.21 and David Oliver, the second fastest in the world this year, won the second semi in 13.31.

Shi misses out

France's 2005 world champion Ladji Doucoure qualified in the third fastest time of 13.22 but Liu's teammate Shi Dongpeng missed out by half a head, despite a late lunge that sent him tumbling over the line.

"I'm very sorry I didn't make the final at home," said the 24-year-old.

"I've been running worse and worse in the last three races. Liu Xiang gave me lots of encouragement but the main thing is that I didn't run well myself."

Agencies

(China Daily 08/21/2008 page4)