Chinese long jumper Li aims to defend title on home soil

Chinese long jumper Li Jinzhe has set his sights on -defending his title at the 2014 IAAF World Challenge Beijing after arch--rival Aleksandr Menkov of -Russia withdrew from the event.

Menkov won the gold medal at the World Championships last year on home soil at 8.56 meters while Li came 12th.

"I was a bit pressured until I heard the news that Menkov withdrew," Li told a news conference on Tuesday in Beijing ahead of Wednesday's event.

Li then "blamed" Menkov for the Russian's quitting -making him inconsistent.

"I am not in a good form because he quit," he said. "But it's lucky to get closer to defending the title [after Menkov withdrew]."

Li won the 2013 edition at 8.31 meters. His career best is 8.34 meters, which was set at the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix last year.

The 24-year-old bagged -silver at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in March while Menkov was fifth.

Li said home advantage also brings pressure.

"I have been to compete abroad and what I envy is their home atmosphere … But it also makes pressure, it's 50/50," he told the Global Times.

The World Challenge Beijing event, a second-tier track and field competition after the Diamond League, is considered a rehearsal for next year's World Championships in Beijing.

Twenty-four-year-old Xie Wenjun, who won the Shanghai Diamond League in the men's 110 meters hurdles as a dark horse on Sunday, will compete Wednesday with 2008 Beijing Olympic gold medalist Dayron Robles of the US.

Justin Gatlin of the US, who won 100 meters gold at the 2004 Athens Games, and bronze at the 2012 London Games, claimed the 100 meters at the Shanghai event in 9.92 seconds. He will face -challenges from home runners Zhang Peimeng and Su Bingtian.

At 34, some doubt whether the former world champion can perform in current events. But he responded that age is not a problem for him.

"I guess my secret is I'm confident in my talent, I don't limit myself," Gatlin said. "As I become older, I feel I become stronger, I become wiser."

London Olympic gold medalist Ivan Ukhov of Russia is considered the favorite to win gold in the high jump. Earlier this month, he finished the -Qatar Athletic Super Grand Prix as the winner with a sensational 2.41 meters.