Katja Abel Out of Worlds (23rd August, 2006)

Germany's Katja Abel will miss this year's World Championships in Aarhus, national team coach Ulla Koch confirmed yesterday (22nd August). The 23-year-old injured ligaments in both feet at the first national qualifiying competition on August 19th in Berlin. Warming up on floor, Abel landed badly on a front somi and had to be carried off the mat. An MRI revealed the full nature of the damage, which requires surgery. The operation is scheduled for August 25.

Abel had already suffered a devastating injury when she broke both arms in a training accident in early 2004. Back in training only since last year, she capped off her successful comeback by winning the bronze medal on vault at the 2006 European Championships. The injury strikes a major blow to the German team. Daria Bijak, eight all-around at the 2005 World Cahmpionships, underwent knee surgery last month and might not be ready to compete on all events. Uzbekistan native Oksana Chusovitina, who resides in Cologne, is still waiting for her German citizenship to come through and would be a welcome addition to the squad.

Read an interview with Ulla Koch and Katja Abel in issue 4 of Backflip.
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