SPORTS> Photo
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SPORTS> Photo
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Liu Xiang in good condition, mood
By Lei Lei (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-12-12 07:57 Chinese star hurdler Liu Xiang is recuperating very well after a foot surgery last week, his coach Sun Haiping said after the Olympic gold medalist returned to a US hospital for consultation on Wednesday.
"The X-ray scan showed that Liu's Achilles' tendon is smoother than it was before the surgery and the cut has recovered very well," Sun said in a TV interview. "All risks owing to the surgery have been ruled out. So we are quite relieved after the latest check-up." The 25-year-old hurdler was operated on his right Achilles' tendon in Houston last Saturday. The injury had forced Liu to withdraw from the first round of the men's 110m hurdles event at the Beijing Olympics in August. On his release from the hospital on Sunday, Liu, wearing a special shoe on his right foot, was seen walking with the help of crutches. "Just two days after the surgery, Liu started training on his upper body. The rehabilitation program for his injured foot will start tomorrow," Sun said. "The rehabilitation program will be on a daily basis and will focus on strengthening Liu's right foot," he said. "I feel very good and I want to thank all the people who cared about me through my injury," Liu said. "I hope I'll be back soon." Liu will continue to stay in Houston for a few months till he has fully recovered. With a lot of time on his hands even as he recovers from the surgery, Liu also plans to learn English during his stay in the US. "It will be the longest period that Liu would have stayed abroad and he would like to do a lot of things so that he doesn't get bored," Feng Shuyong, vice-director of China's Athletics Administrative Center said in his column on Sohu.com. "One of our English-speaking officials has arrived in Houston and she will help Liu improve the language." Liu will have another check-up six weeks later and is expected to be able to wear a normal shoe by then.
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