Robles coasts into sprint hurdles final

By Nick Mulvenney

BEIJING (Reuters) - World record-holder Dayron Robles of Cuba oozed confidence as he swept into the Olympic 110 metres hurdles final on Wednesday.

With China's defending champion Liu Xiang having departed with an injury before his first heat, the 21-year-old showed just why he is such a strong favourite for gold by the winning the first semi-final at a canter.

Wearing his trade-mark spectacles and a huge gold crucifix around his neck, Robles got out of the blocks well and was quickly into his smooth rhythm, not grazing a single hurdle as he coasted across the line in 13.12 seconds.

"No problem. I'm very calm. I'll win the gold medal," Robles, who set his world mark of 12.87 in June, told reporters.

Americans are likely to present the strongest challenge to the Cuban in Thursday's final.

David Payne finished second in the first race in 13.21 and David Oliver, the second fastest man in the world this year, won the second semi in 13.31.

"It wasn't one of my great races," said Payne. "I kind of got out of control, but I was able to pick it up on the last few hurdles."

France's 2005 world champion Ladji Doucoure qualified in the third fastest time of 13.22 but Liu's team mate Shi Dongpeng missed out by half a head, despite a late lunge that sent him tumbling over the line.