BEIJING - Finishing seventh at the Doha World Indoor Championships was not the dream result for China's star hurdler, Liu Xiang.

However, after a 19-month absence from the international stage, his effort in the men's 60m hurdles final was more than creditable.

Liu clocked 7.65 seconds in Sunday's final, which was won by archrival Dayron Robles of Cuba in a season-best 7.34.