POWYS Olympian Natalie Powell admits her early defeat in Tokyo this week is still “really painful”, especially when she feels she is “capable of more”.

The 30-year-old star, from Beulah, near Builth Wells, crashed out of the women’s -78kg category at the last 16 stage on Thursday, as the world Number 7 was beaten by South Korea’s Yoon Hyunji.

It was a bitter pill to swallow for the former Commonwealth Games champion, who grew up on the mats of Irfon Valley Judo Club in Builth, where she first became a member as an eight-year-old.

Natalie – who finished an impressive seventh five years ago in Rio – thanked her family, friends and support team after her dream of a medal ended in the early hours of Thursday morning, with her bout with the 23rd-ranked Yoon taking place at around 4.30am UK time.

“After a few days of reflecting, losing my first contest at the games is still really painful,” Powell wrote on her Instagram account.

“Putting so much into something and falling short hurts, especially when I know I’m capable of more. This cycle has thrown its fair share of challenges at us, but as a team we left no stone unturned doing everything in our power.”

County Times: Natalie Powell is going to her second Olympics. Inset below, Denise Lewis’ success at Sydney 2000 inspired Powell

Natalie won gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games

It is unclear at the moment whether Powell will push for a place at the next Olympics in Paris in three years’ time, but for now she just wanted to praise those who have supported her journey to Tokyo.

“I feel incredibly lucky to have the support of such a great team in Wales, getting here would have been impossible without each and every one of you,” she added.

“I would like to say a massive thank you to my friends, family, girlfriend, training partners and support team for their continued support. To @sport_wales @welsh_judo @teamgb @tnluk for their backing. Judo may be an individual sport but without you guys it’s not possible.

“@createautonomy we started this journey seven years ago and although we didn’t get that Olympic medal the journey has been amazing. You have helped me achieve things I never knew was possible. You are one of a kind, I will be forever grateful for the effort and passion you put into our journey, nobody could have done more. I just wish you could have been there, so we could have faced the final hurdle together.”

Back home in Wales, the Welsh Judo Association paid tribute to Powell, saying: “We and our entire Welsh Judo family are extremely proud of you.”

Brecon and Radnorshire MP Fay Jones said she was “gutted” for Powell. “She is just so impressive to make it so far,” said Ms Jones.

“It takes so much work and sacrifice to even make it onto the plane out to the Olympics.

“Natalie, everyone back home is so proud of you and grateful for what you’ve achieved so far.”

Powell has enjoyed a huge amount of success since finishing seventh in Rio in 2016, reaching podiums at European and World Championship level and becoming the first female British judoka attain world No1 status – which she accomplished after winning gold at the Abu Dhabi judo Grand Slam in 2017.

Powell, the European and Worlds bronze medallist in 2017 and who also won European bronze in 2016 and 2018, was hoping to emulate British team-mate Chelsie Giles, who claimed Team GB’s first medal of the games last weekend by winning bronze in the -52kg section after beating Switzerland's Fabienne Kocher.

Powell’s defeat came after huge disappointment for another Welsh star on the mats, with taekwondo's Jade Jones suffering a shock defeat in the first round.

The 28-year-old, from Denbighshire, was hoping to become the first British woman in history to win three golds at three consecutive Olympics. But despite a two-point lead in the beginning, Kimia Alizadeh of the Refugee Team beat her 16-12 in the first bout.