Xie Wenjun surprised himself and his world beating opponents by winning the 110 meters hurdles at the 2014 IAAF Diamond League track and field meet held in Shanghai.

 Xie, 24, defeated David Oliver, gold medalist at the 2013 World Championships in Athletics; Pascal Martinot-Lagarde, winner of the 60 meter hurdles silver medal at the World Indoor Championship and Dayron Robles, gold medalist at the 2011 Pan American Games.

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Sports commentators said Xie's victory in the hurdles was the greatest performance of the meet.

Xie ran a personal best of 13.23 seconds in an inspired performance that had the Chinese spectators at the stadium screaming. Martinot-Lagarde came in second at 13.26 while Oliver placed third.

"I didn't expect I could finish first in today's race because all my rivals are world-class athletes, like David Oliver," Xie said. "So it's a great surprise and great pleasure for me to win at home."

As a result of his victory, Xie now stands at second place in the race for the Diamond League title. The Diamond League is an annual series of 14 one-day track and field meetings held under the auspices of the International Amateur Athletic Federation.

The Shanghai leg last May 18 was the second Diamond League race to be held this year.

The Diamond League's aim is to enhance the worldwide appeal of athletics by going outside Europe for the first time.

There were 15 track and field events at Shanghai. Xie was the only Chinese gold medalist in all these events.