Japanese figure skater Mai Mihara will miss the Cup of China, the fourth Grand Prix series event of the season, with a right ankle injury, the country's skating federation said Monday.
The Cup of China begins Friday in Chongqing. Mihara's withdrawal has all but dashed her chances of advancing to the Grand Prix Final, which she won last year for the first time.
"I made this very tough decision," the 24-year-old said in a statement through the Japan Skating Federation. "I'll try to recover properly and give a perfect performance when I compete next."
At the world championships in March, Mihara finished fifth when compatriot Kaori Sakamoto won for the second year in a row.
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