SOUTH KOREA: ICE SKATING - South Korea's top skater Kim Yu-na, recovering from a back injury

South Korea's leading female figure skater Kim Yu-na said on Thursday (February 22) she is recovering from a back injury that has kept her out of the Asian Games and will compete in the World Figure Skating Championship in Tokyo in March. Kim has been receiving treatment for her injury for more than two weeks. Following her doctor's instructions to walk while receiving acupuncture treatment, Kim walked around the hospital with a needle inserted in her lower back. She also held heavy books to increase the treatment's effects. Her doctor, Shin Joon-sik, said Kim was recovering from the back injury that knocked her out of the Asian Games. "She has no problem in attending matches now. Since she's got a great physical status, she's recovering in a high-speed and exercising more than before," he said. Kim, a Grand Prix winner last November in Paris and in December in St. Petersburg, was unable to compete in the Winter Asian Games that opened last month due to an early-stage herniated disc in her back. "I think I have to diligently attend treatment. And I should hurry up and get used to my new skates, so that it will not influence my performance in the international competition," Kim said at a news conference in Seoul. When Kim was asked about her Japanese rival skater, Mao Asada, during a press conference, she praised Asada her highly. "Watching her training, I realised I can't beat her, but I don't feel any pressure. Since it's my first international competition, I don't want to pay too much attention to the result," said Kim. Kim said she will travel to Japan with her doctor.

ITN Source | February 23, 2007

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