Defending champion Marin to miss Tokyo Olympics due to knee injury

MADRID - Carolina Marin, Olympic badminton gold medalist, said on Tuesday that she will not be able to defend her title in Tokyo next month.

According to her announcement, the 27-year-old had torn the meniscus and anterior cruciate ligaments in her left knee, which will require surgery.

Marin, who has also won the World Championships three times and is currently ranked fourth in the world, suffered the injury in training on Friday.

"After tests carried out over the weekend and consultation with the doctors, it has been confirmed that I have a torn anterior cruciate ligament and both menisci in my left knee. I will have to have surgery this week and start my recovery," she posted on her social media sites.

The player from the city of Huelva in the south of Spain was one of Spain's best hopes for a medal in Tokyo after starting the year with two Super 1000 wins in Thailand, along with triumphs in the Super 300 in Switzerland and the European Championships in Kiev.

"I want to thank everyone for the support and messages in the past few days. This is another setback for me, but I have no doubts that I will return," assured Marin.

"Despite the fact that the preparation in the last two months had become very difficult, I was very excited about going to the Olympic Games in the best possible shape, but unfortunately that can't be," said the Spaniard.

"I know that I am in the best possible hands and that I have a lot of people beside me," she added.