Takahashi pulls out of world figure skating championships

Japan’s Vancouver Olympic bronze medallist Daisuke Takahashi has pulled out of the world figure skating championships at home this month due to an injured right leg, officials said Tuesday.

Takahashi, the 2010 world champion, finished sixth in the Sochi Olympics men’s singles won by 19-year-old compatriot Yuzuru Hanyu.

He was diagnosed with chronic joint inflammation in his right knee after returning from Sochi and will need to rest the joint for five to six weeks, the Japan Skating Federation said.

“I had dwelled on the thought that I should take part in the home world championships given that I had been selected,” said Takahashi, 27, who has a huge following of female fans at home.

“But as I need to confine myself to bed rest treatment and then take care of my knee for a long time to come, it was with great regret that I decided to withdraw,” he said, promising to focus on treatment and return as soon as possible to “skate in front of everyone.”

Takahashi said he would consider whether or not to continue competitive figure skating after taking part in ice shows in April and May.

Takahiko Kozuka, a reserve in Japan’s Olympic and world championship team, will replace Takahashi at the event scheduled for March 26-30 at Saitama near Tokyo, the skating federation said.

A third man in the team is Tatsuki Machida who finished fifth in Sochi.

Takahashi is the latest in a growing list of notable absentees from the event in Japan.

Three-time men’s world champion Patrick Chan, who settled for silver in Sochi, said Monday he would skip the worlds. The 23-year-old Canadian said he did not want to return to training so soon after the Olympics.

Olympic ice dance champions Meryl Davis and Charlie White of the United States have also pulled out along with Canadian rivals and runners-up Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir.

But newly crowned women’s Olympic champion Adelina Sotnikova of Russia is expected to take part along with Japan’s Vancouver silver medallist Mao Asada.

South Korea’s Kim Yu-Na has retired from competition after failing to defend her Olympic crown and settling for silver in Sochi.