Robles wants to break indoor hurdles WR

Dayron Robles wants to become the fastest indoor hurdler too.

The Olympic gold medalist and world record-holder in the 110-metre hurdles, has his sites set on the 60-metre indoor hurdles mark.

The 21-year-old native of the eastern Cuban city of Guantanamo is already ranked No 1 in the 60 with a time of 7.33 seconds. The world record is 7.30, held by Colin Jackson.

"The principal objective is the indoor world record," Robles said in a telephone interview on Monday.

After a vacation, Robles arrived in Cuba on Sunday, in time for a post-Olympic party in the capital Havana.

He called taking gold in Beijing "always something special," but also expressed regret for fellow hurdler Liu Xiang of China, who won in the 2004 Athens Olympics and was a favorite at Beijing before he withdrew with an injury.

"I hope he recuperates quickly," Robles said.

Robles set the world record in the 110 hurdles in June at 12.87. He won the gold in Beijing in 12.93.

He said his short break in Cuba will help him recover from nagging injuries. Minor problems with his ankle and right big toe caused by hitting hurdles during European competitions kept him from competing in the World Athletics Final in Stuttgart, Germany, over the weekend.