Dai Greene confident in World Championship bid

Greene eases through his semi-final to qualify for the world 400m hurdles final

European and Commonwealth champion Dai Greene insists he is "the man to beat" in the World Championship 400m hurdles final on Thursday.

The Welshman finished first in his semi-final after a run of 48.62 seconds and Greene was second-fastest qualifier behind Puerto Rican Javier Culson.

"I know in the final I'll have the confidence," said Greene. "I hope that sends a message to the other guys.

"Perhaps they'll realise I am the man to beat in Thursday's final."

The 25-year-old finished well clear of Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic in the second semi-final as they both eased into the Daegu final.

They will be joined by Culson, runner-up at the 2009 Worlds in Berlin, Olympic bronze medallist Bershawn Jackson and fellow American Angelo Taylor, South African pair Cornel Fredericks and LJ van Zyl and Russian Aleksandr Derevyagin in the final at 1315 BST on Thursday.

Greene, who finished seventh on his World Championship debut in 2009, is hoping for world domination as the Llanelli runner prepares for his 2012 Olympic bid in London.

Swansea Harrier Greene said: "I switched off after about hurdle eight and cruised home, I was always in control."

However, Greene's Team GB team-mates Jack Green and Nathan Woodward missed out.

European under-23 champion Green was furious with himself after finishing fifth in the opening semi-final, saying: "It was embarrassing, a waste of my time and the team's money.

"I am confused and annoyed, if I had run properly I could be up there. I expect more of myself.

"I hope to be in the 4x400m heats and I am going to run some dirty time, I am going to upset some people."

Woodward was sixth in the final semi after fading on the home straight.