Chinese politics complicate Liu`s plans

Beijing: Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang`s hopes of a return to Olympic gold medal-winning form are being hampered by political obligations to the communist state, his coach has said.

Liu, the 2004 Olympic 110 metres hurdles champion and a former world champion, must attend two sessions of China`s top legislature and political advisory body this year."Xiang will go to Beijing for this year`s two sessions next week," Liu`s coach, Sun Haiping told a newspaper. "But to keep his condition, he`ll receive training while attending the sessions in Beijing." Liu became a member of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People`s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) four years ago, according to China`s state-run media. He missed his debut advisory session in 2008 due to an overseas competition but overseas commitments have made carrying out his political duties difficult. Last March, he submitted a proposal at the session but later confessed his bill calling for better rewards for sports coaches was written by someone else.Liu, a triple Asian Games champion, has struggled to return to peak fitness since suffering a heart-breaking Achilles injury at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Bureau Report