Dayron Robles, the 21-year-old Cuban who produced a blistering effort of 12.87 seconds at the Golden Spike Meet in Ostrava (Czech Republic) last June, is modest and likes a challenge.

“I like a full field with all the top hurdlers in the fray. I like to challenge myself and I know the world mark will be broken again this summer,” said Robles ahead of the mouth-watering clash with Liu, come August. “Liu will get the motivation from his home fans.”

Liu, the reigning Olympic and World champion will try to redeem his status. But the bespectacled Cuban is not ready to relent.

Robles has special words for his coach Santiago Antunez. “My coach has won medals of all colours, but he was missing a world record. We can now say he is the best sprint hurdles coach in the world. I am very thankful for being in his hands,” Robles said after his record-breaking feat.

A silver finish at the World junior championship at Grosseto (Italy) in 2004 followed by two silvers at the Central American & Caribbean championship in 2005 and the World indoors championship (60m) in the following year.

This set the tone for a championship record (13.12s) effort at the Central American & Caribbean Games in 2006 and a 12.92s act at the IAAF World final at Stuttgart (Germany) in 2007, finishing behind Liu.

Robles, though lacking in experience has a personal best of 7.33s indoors and will like nothing better than to upstage the world and Olympic champion in front of his home crowd.

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