The 28-year-old Su, hitherto unbeaten on the boards this season, became the most successful Asian 60m athlete at the championships, bettering Qatari Talal Mansoor's bronze in the 1993 Toronto tournament and his compatriot Femi Ogunode's third-place finish four years ago in Sopot.

Su became only the fifth male Chinese athlete to snatch a world indoor medal, following in the footsteps of Liu Xiang, who won his first senior global medal－bronze in the 60m hurdles－at the 2003 championships in the same arena.

"Liu Xiang is my idol and also my friend," said Su. "I was always so close to a medal in recent championships and finally I got one. Back home, I expect there will be a big celebration as this is my dream come true.

"Actually I thought that I could win a bronze. There is no difference between silver and bronze. Even a bronze could prove that Chinese sprinters have made a breakthrough in major world competitions."