David Oliver (L) of the US leads Liu Xiang (R) of China in the 110m hurdles at the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League track meet in Eugene, Oregon June 4, 2011.  [Photo/Agencies]

TOKYO - China's former Olympic 110-metres hurdles champion Liu Xiang will run at next month's Asian athletics championships in Kobe, Japanese organisers told Reuters on Tuesday.

Liu is still searching for the form that won him gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics after the Achilles injury that wrecked his Beijing hopes in 2008.

He snapped rival David Oliver's 18-meet winning streak in his hometown of Shanghai last month but the tables were turned when the American beat Liu on home soil on June 4.

Liu is set to skip European meetings ahead of this year's world championships in Daegu, South Korea, in August because of recurring foot pain.

His decision is part of a cautious build-up to next year's London Olympics for the former world record holder, mindful of the Achilles surgery he underwent in 2008.

Liu will headline athletes from 40 countries taking part in the July 7-10 Asian championships in the southwest port city of Kobe.