China's "female Wayne Rooney" is set to miss the Olympics after rupturing a knee ligament earlier this week, local media reported.
Ma Xiaoxu, the 19-year-old striker nicknamed for her talent and temper, rolled on the pitch in agony after she sustained the injury when trying to control the ball during a friendly between China and New Zealand in Guangzhou on Wednesday.
The damage to her right knee is expected to keep Ma sidelined for at least six months, leaving the 2006 AFC player of the year facing un uphill battle to get fit for the Beijing Games next August, the China Daily said.
"The previous examples of my team mates (who missed the Olympic Games through injury) are quite frightening for me anyway," Ma wrote on her Web blog.
"But I'm confident with myself. I will fight to recover
before the Olympics."