Malaysia's Asian Games karate medal hope S. Mahendran is battling to be fit for Doha after aggravating a knee injury.

The Star newspaper reported on Friday that under-70kg exponent Mahendran, who is hoping to make his Games debut, hurt his left knee during training on Wednesday.

"I have to go for an MRI scan to determine the extent of my injury," Mahendran was quoted as saying.

"I hope that there is no torn tissue in my knee as this could end my hopes of making my first appearance at the Asian Games."

The 26-year-old Mahendran first suffered the injury at the world championships in Finland last month.

Kumite specialist Mahendran won a silver medal at the Taiwan Asian Championships in 2004 and was a bronze medallist at last year's event in Macau.