Despite the odd face, Liu more than happy to advance to hurdles semi-finals

Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang pulled a funny face just as he crossed the finish line to take another giant stride into unfamiliar territory, the semi-finals of the men's 110 hurdles.

The 21-year-old Shanghai native was asked to explain his curious expression upon winning his second-round heat in 13.26 seconds.

Was he poking fun at the demise of Allen Johnson, who stumbled out of the competition in an earlier heat, leaving Liu bereft of his greatest rival?

Or was he just relieved to get through to the next round in his quest for greatness, knowing he would become the first Chinese athlete - male or female - to ever reach the final of an Olympic sprint.

'I promise you I didn't do that to poke fun at Johnson. I respect Johnson enormously and it's a bit sad that he will not be competing against me now,' said Liu, whose success made him one of the clear favourites for gold in today's final - barring mishap in the semi-finals overnight.

'China has never reached the final of this event. Nobody from the whole of Asia has ever won a medal in the event. So I think winning a medal of any colour would be a great breakthrough,' said Liu, who posted the second-fastest time this year in Osaka - 13.06.

Defending champion Anier Garcia of Cuba also qualified for the semi-finals after finishing second in his second-round heat in 13.28 seconds, behind winner Stanislavs Olijars of Latvia (13.26).