Chinese athletes head for Moscow, but one eye is on Beijing 2015

With the Liu Xiang era limping to a close, China's focus is squarely on Beijing 2015 as an emerging group of competitors test themselves at the world championships in Moscow.

Track and field hopes for the mainland have long rested on 110 metres hurdler Liu, who became China's first men's Olympic track and field champion at Athens 2004.

However, strikingly similar Olympic injury exits at Beijing 2008 and London 2012 - both in the opening heat, and with the same Achilles problem - appear to have all but ended the 30-year-old's career.

Now, the onus is on China's young stars as they prepare to welcome the world back to the famous Bird's Nest Olympic stadium for the next world championships in two years.

"China has a lot of top athletes, especially in the men's 110 metres hurdles," Xie Wenjun, 23, said at the Shanghai Diamond League meet in May, where he finished third behind reigning world champion Jason Richardson.

"Liu Xiang is not here, and we all hope he returns, but he is not the only one ... we are also talented and can achieve very good results."

Xie's words were borne out in Shanghai, where his performance was not the only reason for Chinese officials to cheer. In the men's long jump, Li Jinzhe emerged victorious in a field including Olympic champion Greg Rutherford and Panama's Irving Saladino, the gold medallist at Beijing 2008.