China head to Worlds with low expectations

Due to the absence of men's 110m hurdles reigning World Champion Liu Xiang, China's medal expectations at the World Championships in Berlin are slight. The young Chinese delegation's best hopes for a podium finish appear to be in race walking and the women's throwing events.

The injured Liu has been forced to miss the Worlds this year to rehabilitate his injured right Achilles tendon, which destroyed his Beijing Olympic dream. With Liu out, Chinese hopes in the hurdles rest with his understudy Shi Dongpeng, Ji Wei and the improving Yin Jing.

Shi finished fifth at the 2007 World Championships while Ji is considered China's No 3 in the event behind Liu and Shi.