Lisa Kearney set to miss Rio 2016 Games after suffering knee injury

Lisa Kearney won a bronze medal at last year's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow

Lisa Kearney's hopes of competing in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games appear to be over after the Belfast judoka suffered a serious knee injury in training.

The 25-year-old is expected to undergo surgery on ligament damage to her right knee next week and has been ruled out of the European Games in Baku in June.

Kearney fought in the 48kg division for Ireland at London 2012, losing in the round of 32.

She won bronze in the -52kg category at last year's Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Kearney, coached by Ciaran Ward, recently won bronze at the International Judo Federation Grand Prix in Turkey, an Olympic qualification event, and had been producing some of the best performances of her career to date.

Her rehabilitation is being directed by the Sports Institute NI.

Qualification for judo at the Olympics is based on the IJF's world ranking, where Kearney would have to earn a place in the top 14 of her weight category by May next year to make Rio.

"Unfortunately due to a bad knee injury my quest for Rio has come to a premature and abrupt end," Kearney tweeted on Friday.

"Thanks to everyone for the messages of support. The road to recovery will be long but with an amazing team behind me I have no doubt I will recover," she added.