GUANGHOU - Star hurdler Liu Xiang, whose shock exit from the Beijing Olympics in 2008 still haunts him and his fans, is putting a higher emphasis on safety as he bids to defend his Asian Games title for the second time in Guangzhou.

The former 110m hurdles world record holder and Olympic champion - the country's first major track star - has been taking things slowly and training behind closed doors since he arrived in the host city on Monday.

"Safety is the most important thing for me," said the Shanghai native. "I'll try to adjust myself to a good form in Guangzhou. I hope I can give a good performance."

Liu was unable to defend his Athens Olympic gold medal when he hobbled out of the Bird's Nest Olympic stadium with a foot injury two years ago. He has battled injuries ever since.

Now he is setting himself realistic goals to avoid aggravating the damage done to his body through years of fearsome competition, but he still intends to end the games with an Asiad hat trick in his signature event.

"I'll be satisfied if I can finish within 13.30 seconds. For the Asian Games, ranking is the most important thing, not the result," he said.

Liu is now living at the tightly guarded Ersha Island training base, and being kept at arm's length from the public and media.

"Opening up his training base would distract him and might lead to another injury. Liu is now ready both physically and mentally," said Feng Shuyong, head coach of China's track and field team.

In retrospect this probably wasn't such a bad idea. Liu has been deluged with media requests since he arrived in Guangdong, and even his media-savvy entourage has struggled in the past to keep the media at bay and distance Liu from the weight of expectation of a 1.3 billion countrymen.

Liu, who hit his peak at the Asian Games in Doha 2006, said he feels just as good as he did then, despite the physical problems he has experienced.

"Each time I take part in the Asian Games, I get a different feeling," he said. "In (Busan in) 2002 I was so young, and in 2006 I was at my peak. This time should be good as well. I'm 27, but I think I can get back the feeling I used to have."

Liu will run in the first round of the hurdles on Nov 22, with the final two days later. His main opponent is expected to be teammate Shi Dongpeng, who defeated him for the first time at a Diamond League tournament in May.

Liu, the 2004 Olympic and 2007 world champion, has not raced since he placed third at a Diamond League meet in Shanghai on May 23, when he clocked 13.40.

He said he wasn't looking at the Asiad as a platform to make his official comeback but wants "a larger stage to show my return".

"When I reach the world's top three and break the world record again, I can say that my injury has been fully healed," he said.

China Daily