Chinese athletics chief hailed Liu Xiang as a fighter after the defending champion pulled out of the Olympic 110m hurdles first round because of the tendon injury to the right foot on Monday morning.

"If his injury weren't so serious, he would never, ever have quit," said Feng Shuyong, deputy director of the Chinese athletics administrative center and head coach of the Chinese team.

Feng also said Liu was "very sad, depressed."

(Xinhua News Agency August 18, 2008)