Misfortune on the grandest stage can seldom be compensated for. However, a compassionate hand can help to reduce the discomfort to some degree. For Japan’s Ryuju Nagayama, Paris could have been the place where he could finally come out of the shadow of Naohisa Takato, but that wasn’t to be. Thanks to the controversial call made by the referee, the three-time World Masters gold medalist was ousted from the race to gold in the -60kg category. But at least his opponent can feel his emotions.

The judo community let out a cry of uproar when Nagayama was met with his troubles a couple of days ago. However, while the clamor continued, Ryuju received an apology from the very person who attracted severe backlash from the fans over his chokehold despite the referee’s matte call. In an Instagram post from hours ago, the Japanese judoka shared an image of himself with his Paris Olympics quarterfinal opponent. “My friend Francisco Garrigós came to see me and offered his apologies,” wrote Nagayama in the caption of the post.

“I believe it was an unfortunate outcome for him as well,” the Olympic bronze medalist asserted in the post further, underscoring that they’re together in this ordeal. With that, he also thanked his fate for allowing him the chance to compete with the Spaniard at the biggest sporting tournament in the world. Despite the snag he went through, Ryuju made it clear: the judo fraternity must stand together, as he wrote, “No matter what anyone says, we are all Judo family.”

While the community navigates its way through the scandal, the whole incident was a stern blow to the guts for the Japanese star. Ryuju was so stunned by the unexpected call from the match official that his initial reaction even stunned the onlookers.

Ryuju Nagayama took his good time swallowing the hard pill

After Garrigós was awarded the ippon decision, the Spaniard held out his hand to shake with the 2022 Asian Championships gold medalist. However, Nagayama was still reeling from the unexpectedness of the whole thing and refused to reciprocate. Instead, he urged the match official to reconsider. When it was made clear that Francisco was the winner of the match, Ryuju sternly bowed the mat and left. However, he was still seen lingering in the Champ de Mars Arena for a while, as if to come to terms with the tragedy that befell him before finally exiting the complex. The heartbreak was perhaps even more since the 2020 Olympic gold medalist, Naohisa Takato, was also present in the crowds. “I feel a lot of regret that I didn’t win as well,” the 28-year-old said later.

Soon after, fans came together to slam Nagayama for his “unsportsmanlike” behavior. While the referee later confessed that his call was a misjudgment on his part, it didn’t help to turn the verdict around, and Ryuju had to settle for the bronze anyhow. Now, with his opponent coming forward to help him forget the tragic loss, it remains to be seen if the Hokkaido native can find it in himself to forge through and chart a new destiny in the coming days.