Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang is suffering an inflammation in his right foot Achilles tendon, according to his coach Sun Haiping.

Liu is training in Beijing after attending the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. The defending champion is scheduled to race against Dayron Robles and Terrence Trammell at the World Indoor Championships in Doha starting on March 12.

"We have been training conservatively to make sure he can race for the indoor championships," said Sun. "What worries me is the foot's reaction after a tense semifinal, as the final is only two hours away." The 60m hurdles first round will be held on March 12 while the semifinal and final are scheduled for March 14, with a two-hour interval.