Kiwi wrestler Sam Belkin came up short, literally, as his Commonwealth Games campaign stumbled at the quarterfinal stage today.
Canterbury University student Belkin succumbed 3-1 to Australian Hassene Fkiri in a Greco Roman match which turned into a war of attrition.
The result could easily have been 1-1 - Belkinbelieved the umpire got it wrong when they ruled he stepped off the mat first in a key moment midway through the second round - but the bulky 22-year-old said he only had himself to blame.
"It was a close match, he was a bit stronger than me but I should have pushed him a bit harder in the first round. I laid off a bit.
"I was expecting that I would win that one. New Zealand and Australia are quite even when you get up to the top level. I should have won, but these things happen."
A major problem was Fkiri's lanky frame, which contrasted with Belkin's bowling ball build.
"I haven't wrestled many tall people before. In my weight, you don't get tall, you get short and strong," he said.
"It means I can't get leverage on him. If I can't get leverage, it's a big problem."
Under wrestling's rules, Belkin could get a chance to fight for bronze later today but only if Fkiri beats his semifinal opponent.
The ancient sport of Greco Roman wrestling dates back to the first modern Olympics and forbids holds below the waist, putting an emphasis on upper body strength.
Belkin's six week preparation for the Games in Russia were hampered by a shoulder injury which meant he couldn't train properly for about a month.
He was encouraged enough by his progress there to start planning another, longer, campaign in Europe next year.
"In New Zealand I have one or two training partners in Christchurch. In Russia there was a club of 400 people, training with a different person each day is great."
The 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janiero are the main goal rather than London four years earlier for Belkin who is considerably younger than most of his competition.
The freestyle competition involving the rest of the six-strong New Zealand team starts from Thursday although Christchurch's Stephen Hill planned to also contest the 84kg Greco Roman class tomorrow.
