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A relaxed Liu strides to semis
This was not the end of it however, as all the athletes had to come back to the starting line for the third time when the local runner Matti Niemi also made a false start.
"Everything is under control. Anyway, it is the first heat so I'm not overly worried," said Liu. Liu is expected to meet a real challenge in the semi-finals which will be held on Wednesday night (Thursday morning Beijing time) when another two hot favourites four-time world champion American Allen Johnson and France's emerging power Ladji Doucoure with a season's best of 12.97, also cruised into the semis with ease in their heat competitions. Allen, now 34-years-old, is the only other hurdler to run under 13 seconds this season with 12.99 at the US championships in June. Liu's best time this season is 13.05 but he has displayed consistent form by finishing five times under 13.15. However, Liu won't be alone in semi-finals. His teammate, Shi Dongpeng, who also made it into the semi-finals, finished the heat in 13.80, the day's third best, and is likely to make his second appearance in the championships final following his showing at the 2003 Paris Worlds. Another Chinese youngster Wu Youjia failed to advance.
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When asked if he was affected, Liu said it did not make any difference at
all.
