Liu headlines China squad for Asian Games

BEIJING, Oct 25 (Reuters) Olympic 110 metres hurdles champion Liu Xiang will head China's 41-strong track and field team at December's Asian Games, the Chinese Athletics Association (CAA) announced today.

Teenager Huang Haiqiang, who won gold in the high jump at the world junior championships in Beijing in August, is also included in the squad for the Games, which open in Doha, Qatar on December 1.

Athens Olympics 10,000m champion Xing Huina has been left out because of a knee injury, the CCA statement said.

The CCA also warned athletes not to bring sportswear made by any manufacturer other than official sponsor Nike.

China won 150 gold medals at the last Asian Games in South Korea's Pusan in 2002 and will be looking to increase that tally as preparations continue for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

REUTERS PM VV1336