3x3 star Lasmanis shut down for season, already eyeing Olympic Qualifying Tournament

RIGA (Latvia) - Latvia 3x3 star Karlis Lasmanis underwent surgery on his ankle on Tuesday, October 8, 2019 in order to be back in time for the FIBA 3x3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament, which will be held in India in March 2020. 

The number 2 player in the world will be out for 3 months, which means he will not only miss the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Nanjing Masters this weekend but also the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Final, which will take place in Utsunomiya, Japan on November 2-3, 2019.

The 25-year-old - who briefly became number 1 in the world in September 2019 - will be replaced by Arturs Strelnieks in Nanjing.  

"I had some cleaning and ligament fixing to do on my ankle," the Doha and Prague Masters MVP said. "It will take some time but it is ok because it means I will be back in full shape for my big objective, the FIBA 3x3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament."

Latvia qualified for the FIBA 3x3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament after Lasmanis led his team to silver at the FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2019 in Amsterdam on June 18-23.