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Tiger Woods, Liu Xiang together in Beijing

Thursday, 14th April 2011 ~ Maggie ~ Link ~ Comments (0)

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Nike fraternity brothers Tiger Woods and Liu Xiang were in Beijing yesterday to "inspire youth", or more accurately promote Nike golf at Beijing Sports University. They make an interesting pair—Liu Xiang shattered stereotypes about Chinese and Asian track and field athletes, and Woods broke new ground for Cablinasians in golf. Both reached the pinnacle of their sports before suffering very public and sudden, if quite different, falls. And both are in the hunt for a comeback that will restore some of the shine to their images.

The Beijing visit was part of an Asia tour for Woods and Nike Golf, "Make it Matter," which included a stop at Shenzhen's Mission Hills and South Korea's Jade Palace Golf Club.

Woods was fresh off a third-place tie at The Masters last weekend, and Vegas oddsmakers have him the as favorite to win the US Open in June.

Liu Xiang's most recent accomplishment was his 13.09-second Asian games gold medal. Next month in Shanghai, he faces American David Oliver, who ran the fastest 100-meter hurdles time in the world last year, May 15 at the Samsung Diamond League Dunlop Shanghai Golden Grand Prix.

Tiger Woods/Liu Xiang image: Xinhua

Tags: athletics, golf, Liu Xiang, Tiger Woods