After Liu Xiang limped off a men's 110m hurdles heat Monday morning, Team China lauded him a "real man" who kept fighting despite huge pressure and an abrupt recurrence of tendon injury.

The Olympic defending champion pulled out of the first round heat shortly after the seven competitors were called back by the start referee for a false start by Dutchman Marcel van der Westen.

Stunned at Liu's sudden withdrawal, the spectators, who had been expecting Liu to breeze through the heats towards a showdown with Cuban Dayron Robles, who two months ago shaved Liu's world record of 12.88 seconds by one hundredth of a second.

Feng Shuyong, head coach of the Chinese athletics team, said, "Liu was very, very upset about the withdrawal. Liu said he would never give up as long as he can run."

The serious injury on his right Achilles's tendon exacerbated an hour before the qualifications when he warmed up in the pre-race training. He completed the first two dashes but looked very painful as he walked back to the blocks after the third full sprint.

"He was very hurt, but still insisted on running in the heat," Liu's father-like coach Sun Haiping said, adding that the injury has long been a problem since before the Athens Olympic Games. In Athens four years ago, Liu got his first Olympic title equaling the standing world record of 12.91 seconds.

"His injury was controlled very well under the careful coaching of Sun. Liu's strong mentality made him a man who never gives up in any case," Feng said, acknowledging that Liu and the team around him were unbelievably stressful.

"After the Athens Olympics," a tearful Sun said, "the only target for Liu and the team was to defend the Olympic title. He just exerted all wisdom and strength on extremely hard workouts."

Many predicted Liu to be challenged by the 21-year-old Dayron Robles in Beijing. The formidable Cuban clocked 12.88 and 12.91 seconds within the past month.

Liu still believed he was the best hurdles sprinter. In an early text message to his father Liu Xuegen, the sporting celebrity disclosed his thoughts: "I was turned on when seeing Chinese Olympians sweep golds at the Games. I'm ready to go out to prove I'm the best."

Neither of Liu's parents answered Xinhua phones. They are now in a Beijing hotel, previously planning to see their "flying" son's finals scheduled for Aug. 21.

Liu cherished the home game so much and poured almost everything on his title defence. Days before the Olympics, Liu created his season best of 12.98 seconds. Head coach Feng said, "He has recovered 90 percent of his best form, similar to what he was like before the Athens Olympics."

After winning his appearance in the Bird's Nest National Stadium in May, Liu pulled out of a meet in the United States, worrying about deterioration of a nagging injury.

Anna Legnani, deputy communication director of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) who had long been excited about the summit showdown between Liu and Robles, said, "Liu should not be regretful to leave the track this morning. I wish him best luck and to achieve future glory, for himself, for the country, and for athletics."

Billions of avid Chinese were eager to witness Liu to bring the country more honor at the Olympic Games. Without Liu lining up with Robles and other top athletes, the Olympic hurdles sprint seems to be less charismatic.

Many online postings said their senders were let down after seeing or knowing Liu's pullout. But most looked rational. One message said, "We still have superstars like Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt and Elena Isinbaeva. All of them, winners or losers, made the Olympic spectacular."

(Xinhua News Agency August 18, 2008)