World number one hurdler Liu Xiang was crowned China's most popular athlete and player of the year at an awards ceremony for China's top ten athletes in Changsha, Hunan Province on Saturday.

Liu Xiang won the two awards for his outstanding achievements in 2006, especially setting a new world record of 12"88 seconds for the men's 100m hurdles at Lausanne, Switzerland, in July 2006.

Liu Xiang's coach, Sun Haiping, also scooped the best coach award.

Gymnastics world champion Yang Wei and snooker legend Ding Junhui were some of the other athletes who won best player awards, while Houston Rockets center Yao Ming was the second most popular athlete after Liu Xiang.

Gymnastics star Cheng Fei won the top award among female athletes. Her perfect performance in the vault and floor exercise events at last year's world gymnastics championships helped China beat the defending champions, the U.S, and seize its first women's team world title.

Veteran ping pong player Wang Nan, badminton star Xie Xingfang and up-and-coming speed skater Wang Meng were also honored with women's awards.

Figure skating team Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo were named the best sports pair, while Huang Yubin, Li Yongbo and Liu Guoliang received awards for outstanding coaching. 

(CRI May 13, 2007)