Fri Mar 16, 2:03 PM ET
OSAKA, Japan (AFP) - Olympic sprint champion Maurice Greene is planning to reclaim his crown at the upcoming Osaka Grand Prix which he will headline alongside Chinese star hurdler Liu Xiang.
The US star has won the 100 metres three times in Osaka but has not competed for the last two years, allowing fellow American Justin Gatlin to take the title.
The 32-year-old Greene, the Sydney Olympic gold medallist, has been overshadowed in recent years by world champion Gatlin who clinched the 100m gold at the Athens Olympics.
Gatlin is currently seeking an aritation hearing in the United States after he was slapped with an eight-year ban for a doping offence last year.
The Japan Association of Athletics Federation announced on Thursday that Greene and Liu were the star attractions of the May 5 event.
Liu caused a sensation at the Athens Olympics by equalling the world record of 12.91 seconds in the men’s 110-metre hurdles, becoming the first Olympic champion from Asia in a track event.
Liu also set a new world record of 12.88 in Lausanne in July last year, beating previous co-holder Colin Jackson of Britain.
Other big names set to compete in Osaka are Olympic and world 400m champion Jeremy Wariner from the United States, while 2003 world bronze medallist Shingo Suetsugu and Dai Tamesue will challenge Greene and Liu.
National record holders Daichi Sawano and Kumiko Ikeda will also compete in the men’s pole vault and the women’s high jump, organizers said.
YAY!
When is the Grand Prix anyway? How do you think he’ll do?