Natalie Powell suffered a shock third round defeat at the World Judo Championships in Azerbaijan.
The 27-year-old went into the tournament ranked number two in the world at women’s under 78kg class.
Powell beat Gabon’s Sarah Myriam Mazouz only to face third round defeat at the hands of Slovenia’s Klara Apoteker.
“I messed up, I just messed up,” said the Beulah judoka. “I haven’t had a chance to think about it yet, for a few months things have been going well, I didn’t have any issues. I just lost.
“I know about this level and I know I can beat these girls when I am fighting my best. But I got caught.”
Powell won bronze at last year’s World Championships for Great Britain and had hoped to become Wales’ first world judo champion at this year’s event.
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