SkateFan123
02-26-2004, 07:03 PM
Honda drops out of world championships
.c The Associated Press
DORTMUND, Germany (AP) - Takeshi Honda of Japan, the bronze medalist at the last two World Figure Skating Championships, will miss this year's event because of ankle problems.
Honda is recuperating from tendon and ligament injuries to his right ankle. He won't be ready for worlds at the end of March, his coach, Doug Leigh, said Thursday.
``He won't be jumping for the next two months,'' Leigh said.
American Timothy Goebel, who won silver last year in Washington, has been slowed by injuries and equipment problems all season. He didn't make the U.S. team for worlds.
That leaves Evgeni Plushenko as the only returning men's medalist from 2003, and the defending champion from Russia is bothered by a nagging knee injury that will require surgery.
Plushenko's aura of invincibility has been shattered by Brian Joubert and Emanuel Sandhu at recent meets. France's champion beat him at the European Championship, and Canada's champion upset him at the Grand Prix finals.
``It is going to be a ping-pong game,'' Leigh said of the race for medals.
02/26/04 19:06 EST
.c The Associated Press
DORTMUND, Germany (AP) - Takeshi Honda of Japan, the bronze medalist at the last two World Figure Skating Championships, will miss this year's event because of ankle problems.
Honda is recuperating from tendon and ligament injuries to his right ankle. He won't be ready for worlds at the end of March, his coach, Doug Leigh, said Thursday.
``He won't be jumping for the next two months,'' Leigh said.
American Timothy Goebel, who won silver last year in Washington, has been slowed by injuries and equipment problems all season. He didn't make the U.S. team for worlds.
That leaves Evgeni Plushenko as the only returning men's medalist from 2003, and the defending champion from Russia is bothered by a nagging knee injury that will require surgery.
Plushenko's aura of invincibility has been shattered by Brian Joubert and Emanuel Sandhu at recent meets. France's champion beat him at the European Championship, and Canada's champion upset him at the Grand Prix finals.
``It is going to be a ping-pong game,'' Leigh said of the race for medals.
02/26/04 19:06 EST