The runner-up to Liu Xiang at the East Asian Games said he could have beaten the Olympic champion if he hadn't made a mistake.

"I started too fast and hit the first hurdle. If I didn't make that mistake I could have been first," said the 21-year-old, who clocked 13.36 seconds for the 110m hurdles silver after a false start.

Liu Xiang smoothly cleared all the hurdles to win the gold in 13.21 seconds, well off his world record of 12.91.

Japan's Kota Kumamoto was third in 13.89.

"Of course I need to improve my run. But today's performance is okay," said Shi.

The East Asian Games was the third time Shi challenged Liu in two months. In the Asian championships in September, Liu won the gold in 13.30 seconds, followed by Shi in 13.44.

In last month's Chinese National Games in Nanjing, Liu triumphed in 13.10 and Shi finished second in 13.44.

The 22-year-old Liu became one of China's biggest celebrities after winning China's first ever Olympic men's athletics gold and leveled the world record in the Athens Olympics last year.

His top time this year is 13.05 seconds, which is 0.08 seconds behind this season's best 12.97 set by Frenchman Ladji Doucoure, who beat Liu into second in the world championships.

"I knew I would win although I felt tired after the National Games," Liu said after Wednesday's race.

"I had thought the year following the 2004 Olympics would not be so busy. But it turned out to be very busy. I competed in Golden League races and world championships and quite a few domestic races."

Liu said he was happy with his performance in the year.

"I didn't fall out of the top three in international meets and has won all the domestic races," he said.

Liu said the East Asian Games was not his last race for the year.

"I will run in some indoor and World Cup races," he said.

The 22-year-old has been to Macao three times, only once for competition.

"Macao did quite a good job in hosting the East Asian Games," he said. "They have put in a lots of efforts and money."