"Liu's level of physical strength has reached the top now, and his overall training condition is very satisfactory," said Sun. "It's a good start for him. I'm confident about our further training."

Winning nine of the 12 races he ran in 2007, Liu showed impressive consistency. He also realized his world championship dream in August in Osaka.

"I'm very satisfied with Liu's performances this year, especially his victory at the Osaka World Championships," Sun said. "He was not in best physical condition, and didn't draw the best course. But he made it."

Sun said he did not expect Liu to win all the races on tap for next year, except the Olympics of course.

"The gold medal at the Beijing Olympics is what we will strive for with every effort," he said.

Another Chinese hurdler, Shi Dongpeng, is also training with Sun in Beijing right now and is steadily progressing as well.

"They (Liu and Shi) could help each other in the winter training, it's good for both of them," Sun said. "Shi is weak in some specific strength areas and he still has to improve that."

China on the rise

Led by Liu's Worlds gold medal, China's athletes had a very successful 2007.

This year a total of 42 Chinese athletes were ranked among the top 20 in 19 different events.

At the Osaka World Championships in August, considered one of the world's most prestigious athletics competitions, China had its best results at the World Championships since 1993 in Stuttgart, winning a medal in each color. It also ranked 11th in the medal tally and seventh for the total scores at the Worlds.

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