Chinese injured star hurdler Liu Xiang could be back to competition next April or May and has set his goal to run in the 2015 World Championships, his coach Sun Haiping revealed here on Saturday.

"As an ordinary person Liu has already recovered. But as a hurdler he still has a long way to go before competing in any event," said Sun, Liu's long-time coach.

Liu underwent surgery in London after he limped out of the men's 110m hurdles for the second consecutive Olympics with a ruptured Achilles tendon. The 30-year-old Shanghai native has been taken a lengthy physical rehabilitation since mid-October, 2012.

"He has already resumed training but right now he just trains without spikes since wearing spikes will cause more pressure to his injured foot," Sun said.

"If everything goes well, Liu will be ready to compete again in April or May next year. And it is possible for him to compete in the World Championships in Beijing," Sun said.

The 2015 IAAF World Championships will be held from Aug. 22 to 30 in Beijing's National Stadium, known as the "Bird's Nest", which will be the first time for the quadrennial track and field feast to be held in China.

The last time Liu compete in the "Bird's Nest" was not a sweet memory for him as the Athens Olympic and world champion pulled out of the Beijing Olympics with an aggravated Achilles tendon injury. Four months later, Liu underwent a foot surgery in the United States and had four calcium deposits removed from his right Achilles tendon.

After 13 months' lay-off, Liu returned to track in style by finishing second at the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix in Sept. 2009, and managed to retain his best form before the 2012 London Olympics.

However, the former world record holder exited the London Games after smashing into the first obstacle of his 110m hurdles heat and breaking his Achilles tendon.

"It will be overhasty for him to come back this year. After all he has went through two serious injuries and this time he need more time to recover."

"It is not an easy task for an athlete at his age to come out of injury and return to his peak form. But Liu wants to give it a try," Sun said. "If he can managed to run under 13.20 seconds, he will still be a serious contender in any event."