China's Liu Xiang celebrates after he won the men's 110m hurdles title at Osaka athletics worlds on Friday night, August 31, 2007. [Photo: sports.sina.com.cn]

Athens Olympic champion Liu Xiang became the first Chinese man to win a gold medal in the world athletics championships after claiming the men's 110 meters hurdles title at Osaka on Friday.

Liu, who holds the world record of 12.88 seconds, clocked 12.95 seconds for the historic win. Terrence Trammell from the United States took the silver in 12.99 and his fellow American David Payne got the bronze in 13.02.

The 24-year-old Liu was competing in his fourth world championships. He failed to reach the final in Edmonton 2001, took the bronze in Paris 2003 and won the silver in Helsinki 2005.

Liu's fellow Chinese Shi Dongpeng, who was seventh in 2003, took the fifth place in Osaka with a personal best of 13.19.

Cuba's Dayron Robles finished fourth in 13.15.