VALENCIA, Spain — There's no doubt about it, Liu Xiang of China is ready for the Beijing Olympics.

And so is Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia

Liu won his first 60-meter hurdles competition of the season today, dominating from the heats to the final for his first gold medal at the World Indoor Championships.

Hurdler Dayron Robles did not keep his part of the bargain in the most touted event of the three-day championships. The Cuban was eliminated in the heats when he wrongly assumed a false start.

Liu made sure the event was not a letdown. Despite a slow start, he moved into the lead halfway through the race to win in 7.46 seconds. American veteran and triple indoor champion Allen Johnson took silver in 7.55.

When Liu crossed the line, he broke into a boyish grin and held up his index finger to show who will be the man to beat in Beijing.

Isinbayeva was as solid as ever in competition to win her third straight world indoor title, holding off rising U.S. vaulter Jennifer Stuczynski. Both cleared 15 feet, 7 inches, but the Russian needed fewer attempts. Both failed three times at 15-11.

In the women's 60 hurdles, world record holder Susanna Kallur of Sweden pulled out with a hamstring injury sustained during warmups for the semifinals. Instead, LoLo Jones and Candice Davis led an American 1-2 finish in the event.

That left the U.S. team on top of the medal standings Saturday with three golds and eight medals overall. Isinbayeva gave Russia its first gold. With four medals overall, Russia is in second place ahead of 14 finals on Sunday.

It was a day of several multiple golds.

Olympic champion Stefan Holm won gold for Sweden in the high jump, clearing 7-8¾ to beat defending champion Yaroslav Rybakov of Russia. It was his fourth indoor world title.

Meseret Defar won her third straight 3,000 meter title, leading a 1-2 Ethiopian finish ahead of Meselech Melkamu. In a slow race, Defar kicked for home with 400 meters to go.

The day was billed as the clash between Liu and Robles ahead of the Beijing Olympics, and it did not deliver.

Robles was alongside his main rival in the second heat when the starting gun fired. All other racers went off, but Robles casually got up before realizing his mistake. He then started to run.

Liu said Robles might have been fooled by his lightning fast start, which was just .005 seconds within the legal limits.

"I feel that this put him off," said Liu, the world record holder in the 110 hurdles. "It is better to continue running until you hear the second pistol."

The 21-year-old Robles grabbed his head in despair and fell to the track after the race, with Liu kneeling down beside him. Robles sat in disbelief for several more minutes before he left the track without comment.

"It is a shame because I wanted to run against him. He is my reference in the 60 meters hurdles," Liu said.

Liu played down expectations, saying a top-three finish would be enough. The victory left him giddy with excitement, dancing with the Chinese flag draped over his head.

Liu won bronze in the event in 2003, silver in 2004 and did not compete in Moscow two years ago. Robles was a silver medalist in Moscow.

Cuba got a gold medal from Yargelis Savigne, who set a Central American record of 49-4½ on her last attempt in the triple jump, overtaking Hrysopiyi Devetzi of Greece.

Maria Mutola of Mozambique won her semifinal heat in the 800 to stay on course for her record eighth gold in the event. The final Sunday will be the last indoor race of her career.