Natalie Powell: I messed up at World Championships

The 27-year-old, who is ranked world number two in the under-78kg class, lost to Klara Apoteker, of Slovenia, in the third round in Azerbaijan.

She won bronze for Great Britain at the event last year.

“I messed up,” said Powell, who had hoped to become Wales’ first-ever world judo champion. “I know about this level and I know I can beat these girls, when I’m at my best.

“I don’t think that I started the fight particularly bad. I started well but then I got caught.

“When everything goes right before, you expect the result to come, I suppose – but it hasn’t on this occasion.

“I’ll go back and reflect on it all, and come up with some things to rectify. It’s just really disappointing.”

Powell was thrown for ippon after beginning yesterday with a comfortable victory against Gabon’s Sarah Myriam Mazouz.