OSAKA ¨C World and Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu will be sidelined for three to four weeks due to the ankle injury he sustained in practice for the NHK Trophy, according to a statement released by the Japan Skating Federation on Sunday afternoon.
The 22-year-old superstar was injured on Thursday when he fell while attempting a quadruple lutz and injured the lateral ligament in his right ankle. The injury forced him to withdraw from the NHK Trophy, which means he won¡¯t be able to qualify for next month¡¯s Grand Prix Final in Nagoya. Hanyu has won the GP Final four years in a row.
The Sochi gold medalist, who has remained in his hotel here since the injury, issued the following statement through the JSF on Sunday:
¡°Thank you always for your ongoing support. I am very sorry to have everyone worried. I was told by my doctors that I am to have complete rest for 10 days. I hope to recover in three to four weeks, but this is tentative.
¡°I will work hard on my treatment and rehabilitation to be in time for nationals. I would appreciate everybody¡¯s consideration and understanding so that I may concentrate on the rehabilitation and my training to be able to perform well at nationals.¡±
The Japan nationals are scheduled for Dec. 20-24 in Tokyo. The team for the Pyeongchang Olympics will be announced at the conclusion of the event.
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