Two-time Olympic figure skating gold medalist Yuzuru Hanyu will skip the world championships in Milan later this month because of pain in his right ankle, the Japan Skating Federation said Wednesday.

Hanyu, who became the first back-to-back Olympic men's figure skating champion in 66 years at last month's Pyeongchang Winter Games, damaged ligaments in the ankle after falling in practice for the NHK trophy last November.

The 23-year-old came into the Olympics in South Korea under an injury cloud before successfully defending the title he won at the 2014 Sochi Games.

The ISU World Figure Skating Championships will take place in Milan from March 21-25.