Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang debuts on political stage

Source: Xinhua | 03-11-2009 14:56

Thirteen seconds was more than enough for Liu Xiang to cross 10 hurdles and grab an Olympic gold medal, but it took the Chinese hurdler two years to arrive at the political arena as he appeared on Wednesday, for the first time, at a meeting of the country's top advisory body.

Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang (C) attends a panel meeting of  the annual session of the National Committee of the Chinese  People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing  on Wednesday, March 11, 2009. [Photo: Xinhua]

Liu's debut at the annual session of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), just two days before the end of the event, captured interests of reporters, who waited for an interview with the sports star at at the entrance to the panel meeting room for advisors from the sports circle.

Liu, who had been in the United States for tendon injury treatment, previously asked for absence from this year's session, according to the annual session's reception office.