Figure skater Daisuke Takahashi will sit out this season in order to undergo surgery on his right knee, several skating sources said Monday.
Takahashi, 22, will have an operation to repair ligament damage as well as his right meniscus, forcing him to miss the season prior to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
The former world silver medalist sustained the injury while attempting a triple axel in practice at the end of last month and sat out his first Grand Prix event of the season at the Cup of China to have a detailed examination on the knee.
Takahashi was also scheduled to compete in the NHK Trophy, the sixth event in the Grand Prix series, in Tokyo starting Nov. 26 but is expected to be replaced by Yasuharu Nanri.