Chinese star hurdler Liu Xiang is back to the world top level as he claimed an overwhelming victory against three American first-class hurdlers at the 2012 Diamond League Shanghai on Saturday.

Chinese star hurdler Liu Xiang (C)?clocked a world leading time of 12.97 seconds to claim the title of men's 110m hurdle event at the 2012 Diamond League Shanghai on Saturday. [Photo: Xinhua]

The 28-year-old Athens Olympic champion clocked a world leading time of 12.97 seconds to claim the title of men's 110m hurdle event, and the result bettered the previous season best of 13.03s set by America's Aries Merritt two weeks ago.

David Oliver of the United States finished second in 13.13s while another American Jason Richardson, newly crowned world champion in Dague last year settled third in 13.16. Merritt was fourth in 13.26.

"I am always very confident," said Liu. "But I want to say thanks to my rivals, because without their stimulant I can't run within 13s. I have not expected to run this fast, so I am very happy.

"I performed very well from the start to the end," added Liu, who has adopted to the strategy of seven steps to the first hurdle.

"Although it was a rainy day, I gave my full play," said the winner. "I never hold back but just deliver all I have."

Liu are expecting his third Olympic Games in London, but although the 12.97s was impressive, he said he never thought about how fast he could run in London nor whether he can break the world record.

"No matter I am on my top form or not, I have never thought about breaking the world record," said Liu, who clocked in 12.88 to set a world record in Switzerland in 2006. "To break the world world is everyone's dream, but it's so hard to make it true. I performed perfect today and to keep the best form and stand on the Olympic field is my dream."

Also Saturday, former world record holder Asafa Powell of Jamaica won the men's 100m in 10.02 seconds.

Although the winning mark of 10.02s was kind of lackluster for Powell compared with the 9.88s result he achieved in Doha leg last week, the Jamaican was satisfied with his performance given that he was running on a quite wet track.

"It was a good result. Technically it was good. We did a lot of work in Jamaica. It's still two months to Olympics," said the 29-year-old Powell.

Michael Rodgers of the United States came out second in 10.08s while Nesta Carter of Jamaica finished third in 10.16.

World record holder Usain Bolt chose to skip the tournament in Shanghai.

Besides Liu's 12.97, another three world best results this year were set here in Shanghai.

Ethiopian Genzebe Dibaba won the women's 1,500m in a world best 3:57.77, while Kenya's Milcah Chemos won the women's 3,000m steeplechase in 9:15.81. Hagos Gebrhiwet of Ethiopia claimed the men's 5,000m title in 13:11.00, which was also the world fastest so far this year.

Also, three meet records were broken. The women's long jump was won by Janay Deloach of the United States with 6.73m, the women's discus was claimed by Sandra Perkovic of Croatia in 68.24m, and the men's triple jump was won by Phillips Idowu with 17.24m.

In the women's 200m race, Jamaica's fame runner Veronica Campbell-Brown clocked 22.50 seconds to lift the title, beating American Carmelita Jeter by 0.12 seconds. It seemed Jeter could have surpassed Campbell-Brown if the field was not too slippery and made her almost fell.

The women's 400m was won by Novlene Williams-Mills of Jamaica in 50.00 seconds, while Amantle Montsho of Botswana, the reigning world champion, trailed in 50.83.

Chinese vaulter Yang Yansheng claimed the title of men's pole vault event in front of a jubilant crowds with 5.65m, 10 centimeters short of the Chinese national record he set in 2010.

The men's javelin was won by Vitezslav Vesely of the Czech Republic, while the men's 800m title was taken by Leonard Kirwa Kosencha of Kenya. Angelo Taylor of the United States won the men's 800m, and his compatriot Reese Hoffa won the men's shot put.

Chaunte Lowe, also from the United States, won the women's high jump.