Egypt fencer Alaaeldin Abouelkassem has been hit with an ankle injury just two days before the opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

The 25-year-old Aboulkassem, the first-ever to win an Olympic medal in fencing in Africa and the Arab World, was immediately taken to hospital for treatment.

It remains to be seen whether the setback would prevent him from taking part in the upcoming Olympics, as the full extent of the injury has yet to be determined.