Philippines' Ian Lariba has revealed she is suffering with a form of leukemia ©Getty Images

Ian Lariba, The Philippines' flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony of last year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, has withdrawn from the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Championships here to undergo treatment for leukemia.

The 22-year-old, her country's first ever female Olympic table tennis player, withdrew before travelling here but has only revealed the reason today.

An official statement submitted by her family through the De La Salle University, where she was formerly a student, confirmed she has been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia.

Lariba is scheduled to received treatment this week.

There is no confirmed cure for the condition, but there are treatments that can lessen the impact of the cancer.

Ian Lariba pictured carrying the Philippines' flag at the Opening Ceremony of Rio 2016 ©Getty Images
Ian Lariba pictured carrying the Philippines' flag at the Opening Ceremony of Rio 2016 ©Getty Images

An appeal has also been made for Type O positive blood donors to donate at the Quezon City centre where she is currently located. 

Lariba, a two-time competitor at the South East Asian Games, qualified for the Olympics by virtue of an 11th place finish at the Asian Qualification Tournament in Hong Kong.

She was defeated by Han Xing of Congo-Brazzaville in the opening round.

Acute myeloid leukemia is a cancer of the myeloid line of blood cells characterised by the rapid growth of abnormal cells building up in the bone marrow.

It is more common with older people.