Japanese wrestler Kenzo Kato decided to end his career after he was defeated by Daigoro Timoncini of Italy in the first round of Greco-Roman 96kg wrestling at the Beijing Olympics on Thursday.

Kato, 28, admitted that he had reached his limit after his defeat.

"I have been training for almost 13 years in wrestling since I was young," said Kato. "I realized that I have reached my limit."

Timoncini won the match 2-0 (2-0, 5-0). Kato made his attempt to throw the opponent in the second period but did not succeed.

"Before the Olympics, I had decided that the Beijing Olympic Games would be the final and last Games for me as a wrestler," added Kato.

Kato's personal best was to fifth at the World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, in Spetember, 2007.

(Xinhua News Agency August 14, 2008)