TEHRAN – Iranian woman taekwondo athlete Kimia Alizadeh may be forced to retire from the sport forever, Mahroo Komrani said.

Alizadeh, who had been selected to carry Iran’s flag at the 2018 Asian Games, missed the Games due to a torn ACL.

Alizadeh won a bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. This made her the first Iranian woman to win a medal at the Olympic Games.

But now, her coach says she will likely announce retirement from the sport forever.

“For someone who has undergone surgery several times, is very difficult to return to the sport once again,” Komrani said.

“Kimia made history for Iran in the Olympic Games but our girls have the potential to make a splash in the Asian Games in Indonesia,” she added.

TEHRAN – Iranian shooter Elaheh Ahmadi has been chosen to replace Kimia Alizadeh as the country’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony for the 2018 Asian Games, the country’s National Olympic Committee said on Tuesday.

Ahmadi will carry Iran’s flag as an athlete and a mother.

The 36-year-old shooter won two silver medals in 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou and a silver and a bronze in 2014 Asian Games in Incheon.

Ahmadi was among the original shortlist of candidates to carry the flag along with Alizadeh and discus thrower Ehsan Haddadi.

“First of all, I have to say I am sad due to Kimia and I hope and pray that she recovers quickly,” Ahmadi said.

“I am also glad to be given this chance to carry Iran’s flag in opening ceremony. I will do my best in the games to win a gold medal,” she added.

Alizadeh suffered the horror injury in the training and an MRI confirmed the worst – a torn ACL.

The 18th edition of the Asian Games will be held in Indonesia between August 18 and September 2.

TEHRAN – Iranian taekwondo athlete Kimia Alizadeh says she will participate at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to win a gold medal.

Alizadeh won a bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. This made her the first Iranian woman to win a medal at the Olympic Games.

“Now, I’m training in the camp far from my family. This time, I’m aiming for gold medal in the Olympics,” she told the French magazine Paris Match.

Kimia lost 10kg to participate in the 57kg weight class at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

She found it so hard to lose weight.

“I didn’t like taekwondo at all! Then my coach told my mother I would become Olympics champion! So I thought, why not?” Alizadeh told the French journal.

She will return to the taekwondo court after six months on Friday.

Kimia underwent surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in September.

Kimia Alizadeh adores her coach Mahroo Komrani, saying she has played a big role in her success.

“Ms Komrani is coaching me since I was a seven-year-old,” she went on to say.

Kimia Alizadeh also won a gold medal in the women’s 63-kg class at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games.

She beat London 2012 and Rio de Janeiro 2016 gold medalist Jade Jones at the 2015 World Championship to win a bronze medal.

Kimia won a silver medal two years later at the 2017 World Taekwondo Championships.