YeinJee's Asian Journal

Some random news about Beijing Olympics 2008…

Liu Xiang leaving the track

Liu Xiang quits

World and Olympic champion Liu Xiang has withdrew from the 110m hurdle event following a right foot injury.

Liu’s appearance was in doubt when it was reported last weekend that he was suffering from a sore Achilles tendon, but he showed up for the qualifying heat anyway.

The 90,000 crowd at the Beijing National Stadium didn’t manage to catch Liu Xiang in real action though, as he quit after a false start (by another hurdler), limping out of the race track into the tunnel. The Chinese are generally disappointed, but showing plenty of support for the iconic athlete.

Liu Xiang was China’s best (and probably the only) hope for a gold medal at the track and field event.

Read the rest of this post »

Amna Bakhit of Sudan won the women’s 800 meters at the Olympic athletics test event in Beijing on May 25… with bare feet.

Run Amna, run! (Image from Xinhuanet)

I am not sure if Sudan is too poor to offer their athletes a pair of running shoes, or that the lady preferred to run in bare feet instead… for me it’s an amazing yet saddening scene.

Hope to see Amna in the Beijing Olympic, I’ll be cheering for her.