Cuba's Dayron Robles felt sorry for Liu Xiang, the Olympic 110m hurdle champion and a Chinese national icon, who pulled up injured before he had even reached the first hurdle of the opening round of his title defense.

Cuba's Dayron Robles competes during the first round of the men's 110m hurdles at the "Bird's Nest" National Stadium during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 18, 2008. [Agencies]

"I am sorry for him,"Robles, who broke Liu's world record in June, told China Daily Monday. "Because he is a big athlete, and a big rival for everybody. He is a good man."

Asking whether he knew about Liu's injury, Robles said: "Yes. Because I know him. I know how the Olympic games important for him."

"I am going to the nest to race. I don't know the answer," said Robles when asked about breaking his world record.