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Liu Xiang likely to undergo tendon surgery in US

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-11-07 20:56

SHANGHAI  -- Chinese hurdles star Liu Xiang will probably have surgery in the United States on an Achilles injury that forced him to withdraw from this summer's Beijing Olympics, his coach said.

China's 110m hurdles world champion Liu Xiang (right) and his coach Sun Haiping work out at Xinzhuang training base, Shanghai, September 24, 2008. It was Liu's first public training session since he pulled out of the preliminaries at the Beijing Olympic Games due to an inflammation of his Achilles' tendon. [China Daily]

Sun Haiping, who previously said surgery would be a last resort, and Liu spent the past week in the United States seeking advice on treatment.

"We were less worried about the operation after hearing the US medical experts' advice. They all said it is necessary and safe," Sun told reporters Friday after returning from the United States.

"What's more, the three calcifications between his bone and tendon could not be removed in any other way but through surgery."

Sun added that they would soon consult with domestic doctors to produce the final treatment plan.

Liu became China's first male Olympic gold medalist in track and field when he won the 110m hurdles at the Athens Games in 2004 by equaling then-world record of 12.91 seconds.  He was widely expected to defend his Olympic title on home soil in August, but pulled out at the start of his first heat due to the Achilles tendon injury.

The 25-year-old Shanghai native has since been treated with traditional Chinese medicine and massage therapy.