北京世锦赛,中国田径队取得重大突破（在线收听）

　　Chinese athletes have cast off the shadow of star hurdler Liu Xiang's retirement to restate the country's challenge to world powers in track and field.

　　China saw breakthrough performances at the World Athletics Championships, which ended in Beijing on Sunday evening, scooping nine medals including one gold, seven silvers and one bronze.

　　The sad memory of Liu withdrawing from the 110-meter hurdles final at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 was erased5 in the Bird's Nest stadium on Saturday when China took the silver medal in the men's 4x100m relay.

　　Motivated by boisterous home crowds, Chinese athletes ended the championships with one gold medal, seven silver and one bronze to finish 11th in the medal table.

　　Just before the championships ended on Sunday evening, Chinese high jumper Zhang Guowei won a silver by clearing 2.33 meters, while female javelin thrower Lyu Huihui won a silver with 66.13 meters.

　　Led by 26-year-old Su Bingtian, the men's team initially finished third in the 4x100m relay final but was upgraded to second place after the United States was disqualified for a false exchange.

　　Long jumper Wang Jianan, 19, leapt more than 8.18 meters to clinch9Asia's first bronze medal in the event.

　　The progress achieved by a new wave of Chinese athletes in Western-dominated events has made up for Liu's retirement. The hurdler became a national hero after winning the 110-meter gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Liu, who worked as a guest TV commentator during the championships, was emotional as the men's relay team waved the national flag, an honor that was supposed to be his seven years ago.

　　China's solid improvement in athletics also attracted the attention of Sebastian Coe, the new president of the IAAF. "It's very obvious that China will play a huge part in the development of our sport going forward." the Briton said on Sunday. "