(AFP)
Updated: 2007-08-24 14:44

Legendary hurdler Ed Moses has tipped China's Liu Xiang to be the "star of the show" at the World Championships, which will begin tomorrow in Osaka.

Liu Xiang of China performs in the 110 metres hurdles during the British Grand Prix at the Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield, England, in July. With the world athletics championships just a week away, Liu is running at 80 percent capacity and looking for more speed to clinch the 110m hurdles gold. [AP]

Moses, who won 122 consecutive 400m hurdles races between 1977 and 1987, sees Liu Xiang as in a league of his own.

"I think the hurdler from China is going to be the star of the show," the American told the Japan Times, adding that Liu Xiang had all the right attributes to dominate his 110m hurdles discipline.

"If you look at the Chinese hurdler, he's taller than I am but his legs are like four inches (10cm) shorter," he said.

"He has a very long torso, which for him is perfect for running the 110m hurdles because he won't run into the hurdles as often as a guy with six inch longer legs, because you are talking about 10 metres and three steps."

Liu Xiang, a national hero in his homeland, won bronze and silver medals at the worlds in 2003 and 2005 respectively and is determined to add the top prize this time round before capping it with another Olympic title next year.

With four-time champion Allen Johnson of the United States missing the championships, Cuba's Dayron Robles and American Terrence Trammell are shaping as Liu Xiang's main threats.

Moses, who set four world records during his peak, added that he had generally not been impressed with track and field performances this season, compared to last year.

"This year has been a very slow year for track and field in terms of times," he said.

"Last year was a dynamic year. You had a lot of super-fast times in super events but for some reason it seems like the times have been suppressed. Why? I don't know."