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Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang will fight for a gold medal at next year's London Olympic Games.

China will top the overall and gold medal count ahead of the US and Russia at the London Games, an Italian sports official who projects Olympic medals said on Wednesday.

Luciano Barra issued his final medal projection based on results at the most recent world championships of Olympic sports. Barra, a former senior member of the Italian Olympic Committee, has China winning 103 total medals - 43 gold, 31 silver and 29 bronze. He predicts the US will finish second with 82 medals - 35 gold, 19 silver and 28 bronze. He has Russia third with 76 overall - 30, 22 and 24. Barra also claimed China will win 12 gold and 25 overall in aquatic events.