Chinese athletics head coach Feng Shuyong said on Monday that Liu Xiang pulled out of the Olympic 110m hurdles race because his injury was too serious.

"If his injury hadn't been so serious, he would never, ever have quit the race," said Feng at the press conference, held after the exacerbated tendon injury forced the defending champion out on Monday morning.

Asked about whether Liu had planned to drop out, Feng said, "During the four years after the Athens Olympics, his main goal was a Beijing gold, and he has done great work for it.

"Today's result is not perfect, especially for Liu Xiang. There is great expectation, and a great pressure from all. For the past four years, Liu has been a strong athlete who never drops out of competition easily.

"Liu has tried his best to keep himself in form, but the injury just worsened this morning. Three doctors were on hand to treat him. No matter what we tried, it turned out to be useless because the injury is on the heel, which takes the most force of running."

Liu's mentor Sun Haiping said he could feel the pain of Liu Xiang.

"Whenever he stood up or sat down, the pain was unbearable," said Sun, who broke down with tears at the press conference.

The emotional Sun could not help sobbing for a few minutes before hundreds of reporters. Feng then asked reporters not to ask "sentimental" questions.

"He had taken effective measures and till last Saturday he was in great shape," said Feng. "Last Saturday in training the injury intensified. After experts and doctors looked at it, the injury eased and he was confident. This morning while exercising in the warm-up area he felt the pain got worse."

Feng explained why the injury was not revealed before the competition.

"We did not realize it was so serious...We did not want to tell people he could not run because we did not know at the time," said Feng

(Xinhua News Agency August 18, 2008)