Satoru Terao has asked to be withdrawn from the national team for the upcoming World Short Track Speed Skating Championships after failing to recover from an elbow injury, the Japan Skating Federation said Monday.
Terao, who fell and dislocated his right elbow during the 1,000-meter final at the National Championships in Nagano last month, will be replaced by Junji Ito on the squad which will make an international tour for events including the March 19-21 meet in Gothenburg, Sweden.