Travis Stevens and Janine Nakao Lose in the First Round at the Senior World Championships

(Rotterdam, Netherlands) -Travis Stevens (NYAC) and first-time Team USA member Janine Nakao, both of the USA Judo National Team FORCE in Wakefield, Mass., each lost in the first round of the Senior World Championships on Friday. 

Stevens, a two-time Pan American Champion in the 81kg division, threw 2009 European medalist Aljaz Sedej (SLO) for a yuko mid-way through the first round, but Sedej came back to throw Stevens for ippon with a minute remaining in the match.  

Competing in the 63kg division, Kylie Koenig (AUS) threw Nakao during the first exchange for a yuko score and, although Koenig later picked up a stalling penalty, Nakao was unable to come back with a score of her own.

Competition continues on Saturday with the following divisions:

Women's 70kg
Katie Sell (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center / Boulder Judo Training Center)

Women's 78kg
Kayla Harrison (Wakefield, Mass. / NYAC / USA Judo National Team FORCE)

Men's 90kg
Aaron Cohen (Buffalo Grove, Ill. / NYAC / Cohen's Judo)

Tags: Janine Nakao, Janine Nakao, Travis Stevens