Rika Kihira in the women's free skate at the World Team Trophy figure skating at Maruzen Intec Arena Osaka on April 17, 2021 in Osaka. (Mainichi)

       TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Reigning two-time Japanese national champion Rika Kihira will miss the upcoming figure skating nationals and a chance to qualify for the Beijing Olympics in February due to a fractured ankle, the Japan Skating Federation said Wednesday.

       Two days after Japanese media reported that Kihira would withdraw from the Dec. 23-26 event at Saitama Super Arena due to a lingering right ankle injury, the JSF confirmed that the women's singles skater has a stress fracture.

       "I will focus on getting treated and getting back on the ice in good health as soon as possible," she said in a statement.

       The 19-year-old skater was diagnosed with an ankle cartilage injury in July and skipped both assignments to the International Skating Union Grand Prix series this season.

       She was expected to book her ticket to Beijing had she recovered in time for the nationals where seven Olympic figure skating spots will be up for grabs -- three men's singles, three women's singles and one for an ice dance team.

       The pairs team of Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara has already qualified.

       The four-day nationals act as a qualifier for the Beijing Winter Games, with dispensations allowed for injured skaters who have previously won medals at the world championships. Kihira's best finish at the worlds was fourth in 2019.

       She was too young to compete in the Pyeongchang Games in 2018 but still made her mark since bursting into the senior ranks. She beat Olympic champion Alina Zagitova on her Grand Prix Final debut in December of 2018 where she competed at age 16.

       Last December, she nailed a quad Salchow in her free skate for the first time to defend her national title in Nagano.

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