Singapore's silat gold medal hopeful Shakir Juanda was ruled out of the contact event of next month's SEA Games after failing to fully recover from a knee injury.

The 2013 world champion injured his left knee during last month's Southeast Asian Pencak Silat Championship. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests showed that he had sprained his anterior cruciate ligament and had a Grade 2 tear to his medial collateral ligament.

The former world champion will now partner Sheik Ferdous to compete in the artistic doubles instead.

The 26-year-old, who won a SEA Games bronze in the Class H (80-85kg) in 2013 said: "I am naturally disappointed that I'm unable to bring back a first gold medal for my strongest event on home soil. But I will train with my partner, Sheik Ferdous, and come back stronger in the SEA Games."

Reigning Class J (90-95kg) world champion Sheik Farhan will take Shakir's place. Even though Farhan grabbed golds in January's world championships and April's Southeast Asian Championship in the Class J category, he currently weighs 84kg, making him eligible for Class J.