Chinese star hurdler Liu Xiang claimed the men's 110m hurdles gold medal at the Guangzhou Asiad on Thursday.

China's Liu Xiang competes during the men's 110m hurdles final of athletics at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong province, Nov. 24, 2010.[Xinhua]

The 27-year-old former Olympic and world champion dominated the race to win his third Asian Games title in a row with a season best 13.09 seconds.

His teammate Shi Dongpeng placed second in 13.38, also his season best, while the bronze went to Park Taek Yong of South Korea at 13.48.

"I am very happy to win the Asian Games title the third time," said exciting Liu. "I didn't expect I could race in 13.09."

"I was quite relaxed in the final, and the audience encouraged me a lot," he added.

Liu limped off the field of the national stadium Bird's Nest in the 2008 Beijing Games even before he started running in the first heat to defend his Olympic glory, leaving millions of Chinese fans dumbfounded with the blow.

He was later treated in the United States, receiving surgery on his right Achilles' tendon.

Wednesday's winning result was his best since he made a comeback in Septemper, 2009 after the surgery.

"My coach always has confidence on me," said Liu, the former world record holder. "I am confident of myself too. I am quite sure of my form."

"The Asian Games is important to me, and after that I will focus on the preparation of the 2011 world championships as well as the 2012 London Olympics."

For his silver medal, Shi said he was satisfied, saying that "I am glad with my result. Liu is quite stronger than me. To beat him one day is my goal."