China shock as Liu withdraws - Wariner, Bolt advance

Liu, who is regarded as a national treasure in the country, showed up for the race and got out of the blocks in a false start before limping off after taking just two strides.

He then walked of the track in front of a shocked crowd as the heat took place without him.

Liu's coach had hinted earlier that the national icon was plagued by an inflamed Achilles tendon and hamstring problems. Liu, who is China's most popular Olympic athlete, won gold in 2004 and was world champion in 2007. He held the world record 2006-2008.

The 25-year-old carried the burden of the whole country but due to his mishaps had not competed since mid-May and gone into hiding. The withdrawal must be a major blow to the ambitions and pride of himself and the nation.

Liu was seen in the call room afterwards, sitting on the ground in and feeling his Achilles tendon.

The crowd, which at first had held its breath in anticipation of the race and gave Liu a roaring welcome as he entered the stadium, fell into an eerie silence and thousands left the packed national stadium instantly.

Liu's tragic fate relegated all other events in the morning session to secondary status.

Earlier Jeremy Wariner beat Usain Bolt for the Jogger of The Day award as they strolled into the next round of the 400 metres and 200 metres races, respectively.

The Jamaican 100m gold medallist Bolt and the American 400m world and Olympic champion were running their heats ahead of Liu's fate.

Wariner was given the uncomfortable lane nine but did not have to run hard beyond the 350m mark, shutting down early as he checked for rivals and absorbed the scenery with a run of 45.23 seconds.

"I felt comfortable and easy," said Wariner.

Compatriot LaShawn Merritt, who has beaten Wariner twice this season, clocked 44.96 in his Olympic debut while Christopher Brown of the Bahamas led the way into the semis with 44.79 seconds.

"I ran a smart and easy race. I am ready. I finally got to experience the Games," said Merritt. "It will take guts, heart and power to medal."

Bolt had plenty of power as he reached a new 100m dimension with a jaw-dropping world record run of 9.69 seconds on Saturday in which he eased up with some 20m to go.

The 200m are his preferred distance and again Bolt was able to take things easy in the morning heats, shutting down after 150m en route to the next round in 20.64 seconds.

But unlike Wariner, he didn't win his heat as Trinidad's Rondell Sorillo beat him by 0.06 seconds. Whatever he does in the next rounds, Sorillo could be bragging after the Olympics that he was the only man in Beijing to beat Bolt.

Bolt is yet to run hard over a full race in Beijing.

In other qualifying, Briton Phillips Idowu required just one massive leap of 17.44m to make the men's triple jump final and world champion Betty Heidler of Germany was among the qualifiers for the women's hammer throw final with 71.51m.

The medal events in Monday's evening session are the women's 800m, discus and pole vault, as well as the men's 400m hurdles, 3,000m steeplechase and long jump.