Taekwondoka Kimia Alizadeh who was selected as carry Iran’s flag at the upcoming Asian Games was forced to step down from attending the 18th edition of the continental tournament due to anterior cruciate ligament injury on Sunday.
A high hope for Iran to win a medal at the games, now the 2016 Rio Olympics bronze winner suffers from a severe injury to her knee forcing her to undergo an extended period of medical care, surgeries and recovery, IRNA reported.
She hurt her leg on Sunday while practicing at a national team training camp. According to her doctor she needs to undergo a surgery and will apparently spend nine months to a year before returning to the sport.
In July the National Olympics Committee had announced Alizadeh as the flag-bearer for the Asian Games.
Alizadeh was selected from among three candidates, the other two being the 2012 Olympic gold winner discus thrower Ehsan Haddadi and shooter Elaheh Ahmadi.
NOC has so far neither confirmed nor denied that she will not carry the flag at the opening ceremony.
Asian Games was to be the second event for Alizadeh to carry the Iranian flag in the opening ceremony of an international tournament. She had the honor in the 2014 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China. The 2018 Asian Games is slated for August 18-September 2 in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia.
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