TEHRAN – Iranian taekwondo athlete Kimia Alizadeh has missed the 2018 Asian Games due to a torn ACL.

She suffered the horror injury in the training. An MRI confirmed the worst - 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.

She made a name for herself in the women's 63-kg class at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games by winning a gold medal.

A year later, Alizadeh beat London 2012 gold medalist Jade Jones at the 2015 World Championship to win a bronze medal.

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

Alizadeh had been named as Iran’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Asian Games.

Iranian woman shooter Elaheh Ahmadi will reportedly replace her to carry the flag in the Games.

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