BEIJING — Olympic 10,000-meter champion Xing Huina of China has a thigh injury that will prevent her from defending her title at the Beijing Games.

She would have been one of host nation's medal favorites in track and field. The only other clear favorite in track is defending Olympic champion Liu Xiang in the 110-meter hurdles.

Xing has been unable to train adequately, said Ren Wuyong, the track and field director for the provincial team in Shandong. She will miss this week's China Open at the new National Stadium in Beijing, her last chance to qualify for the Aug. 8-24 Olympics.

Ren told the Guangzhou Daily newspaper that the 24-year-old runner would compete in next year's national games.

Xing has not had much luck since winning the gold medal in Athens. In 2005, she was stripped of her gold medal in the national games for elbowing a runner. She did not compete at the 2006 Asian Games.