Ben Fletcher weighs up judo future after early loss in Toyko

Fletcher was proud to have represented Ireland and Limerick alongside his sister

29 July 2021; Ben Fletcher of Ireland before his men's -100 kg elimination round of 32 match against Mukhammadkarim Khurramov of Uzbekistan at the Nippon Budokan during the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Ireland’s judo hopeful Ben Fletcher had his Olympics come to a swift end following his opening round-of-32 fight in Tokyo today, the 29-year-old acquitting himself well in his first fight since suffering a broken leg in February.

A waza-ari score by his rival, Uzbekistan’s Mukhammadkarim Khurranov, in the second minute of the 100kg fight proved decisive and ensured the verdict went the way of the 2020 Judo Grand Slam gold medallist.