World Champion weightlifter Mirabai Chanu yesterday pulled out of the Asian Games after failing to recover from a lower back injury, which is yet to be fully diagnosed. "Yes, Mirabai will not be taking part in the Asian Games," Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF) Secretary Sahdev Yadav told PTI.

The decision comes in the wake of national coach Vijay Sharma recommendation that the Commonwealth gold-medallist must pull out of Jakarta event from August 18 to be fit for the Olympic qualifiers, later this year. The reigning CWG champion is struggling with an unidentified lower-back problem since May and is yet to begin full-fledged weight training.