Chinese Track Star on the Comeback Trail

Two years ago at about this time the Olympics were underway in China, and I wrote an entry here about the host country's track-and-field star, Liu Xiang, who surprisingly withdrew from the men's 110 meter hurdles.

Just one year ago about this time I wrote a follow-up. Despite early conspiracy theories, Liu's injuries of 2008 had turned out to be real enough to have kept him out of competition entirely during the intervening period.

So: what is up with Liu now?

I am happy to report that he is backin active competition. Last November, he raced at the Asian Athletics Championships in Guangzhou, China, taking gold in the 110 meter hurdles. The following month he again took gold in games held in Hong Kong.

In May of this year, he participated in the Diamond League Games, in his hometown of Shanghai. I have no idea whether he came in first or last or anywhere in between in his signature event there.

Now he is somewhere in the US for medical treatment on the crucial foot. I wish him well, and hereby appoint him the official track-and-field star of this blog.

The Shanghai Auto Show

The Shanghai Auuto Show opens this Sunday, and runs through April 28.

Shanghai is important to carmakers because they realize that the Chinese consumer market has outlived its bicycles. There are lots of Chinese with the money and the desire to buy cars.

The auto show is using the motto, 'Technology and Nature in Harmony.'

General Motors, Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Ford will offer their battery-powered and hybrid models in accord with that theme. But its Volkswagen that seems to be going all out presenting a wide range of cars with what it calls "vanguard" technology. It says the gas consumption and emissions from VWs sold in China will decline by more than 20% by 2010.

Let a thousand flowers bloom.

(Did I just quote Mao Zedong?)