Miguel Gago’s World Championship judo debut ended in disappointment. He lost his first match in the -66 kg category to American Ari Berliner in Budapest.
The Portuguese judoka was eliminated by a single yuko in the golden score, just 13 seconds into extra time.
He felt frustrated and sad, knowing he had the potential to go further in the competition. Gago admitted he wasn’t at his best, unlike in previous performances.
Gago, ranked 81st in the world, had a tough start. He received two shido penalties during the regular four minutes and barely avoided an armbar, forcing the match into golden score.
He said his approach was defensive, trying not to get penalized instead of attacking to score. This mindset made things harder, as he was focused on not getting a third shido, which would have meant automatic disqualification.
Gago was the second Portuguese judoka to compete in Budapest. The day before, Catarina Costa (-48 kg) also lost her first match at the László Papp Arena.
Gago’s elimination was a setback, but he’ll learn from the experience. He knows what he needs to work on to come back stronger in his next competition.