Daisuke Takahashi will miss the chance to defend his title at the upcoming Grand Prix Final in Fukuoka after sustaining a leg injury, the Japan Skating Federation announced Thursday.
Takahashi, the 2010 world champion and Vancouver Olympic bronze medalist, hurt his right leg in practice on Tuesday. Detailed tests revealed he has a bone bruise on his shin and will require around two weeks of rest, according to the JSF.
Reserve Nobunari Oda will replace Takahashi in the elite six-man field at the Grand Prix Final getting under way at Marine Messe on Dec. 5.
Takahashi had booked his place in the Grand Prix Final after following up a fourth-place finish at Skate America with victory at the NHK Trophy earlier this month.
He hopes to return to action at the Dec. 21-23 national championships in Saitama, the final qualifying competition for the Sochi Winter Olympics.
"There is no such thing as an athlete who doesn't panic when he cannot practice, you either stay composed or you feel pressure. It depends on the person," Takahashi said in a statement issued by the JSF.
"I will try to stay positive and deal with the situation as best I can."