WOKINGHAM’S Ben Fletcher suffered a golden-score defeat to double Olympian Ramadan Darwish during a hard-fought contest at the 2017 Senior World Championships.

Ex-Pinewood Judo Club ace Fletcher went into Saturday’s event in Budapest on the back of some excellent results and performances during 2017.

The Rio 2016 Olympian demonstrated that form in the opening round of the men’s -100kg competition, a tactical battle against Brazil’s Luciano Correa.

The tight contest went into golden score before ex-Emmbrook School pupil Fletcher threw his opponent for waza-ari.

That set up a showdown with experienced Egyptian Darwish, a former World bronze-medallist, and it once again proved to be a highly physical but well-matched showdown that again went to golden score.

Fletcher went on the attack from the first exchange but Darwish countered with waza-ari to edge the win.

Sunday saw Fletcher return to the mat as part of the first-ever GB Judo squad to contest a mixed team event at a Senior World Championships.

After receiving a bye into the second round, GB took on Korea but found themselves trailing to an unassailable 4-1 lead by the time Fletcher came to the mat for the final contest.

He ensured the British challenge ended on a high note by holding down Jonghoon Won for ippon.

Fletcher, 25, is coached by Juergen Klinger at the University of Bath Sports Training Village.

His silver at the Cancun Grand Prix in Mexico this summer was Fletcher’s best-ever result at that level, while his big-name scalps during the past 12 months include Olympic silver-medallist Elmar Gasimov in the bronze-medal bout at last month’s European Open in Minsk, Belarus.

“Ultimately I want to be at the very top and I’m edging closer and closer all the time, I have no doubt about that,” said Fletcher.

“I know I can beat the best players in the world, I have proven that, but doing it repeatedly on one day is difficult. I’m going to give it everything.”