ParalympicsGB judoka Dan Powell clinched an impressive seventh-place finish after his older brother Marc was eliminated in the repechage as the popular Liverpool brothers made their Paralympic debuts at the ExCeL.

The brothers were aiming to follow in the footsteps of their father Terry who captured Paralympic bronze medals in Seoul 1988 and Atlanta 1996 and were buoyed by watching teammate Ben Quilter win bronze on the opening day.  

Dan Powell, 21, who won bronze at the 2011 VI German Open, was handed the toughest start possible to his Paralympic Games after being drawn against Germany’s world number one Matthias Krieger in the -81kg category.

The 2009 World Youth Games silver medallist showed his appetite for the occasion as he gamely tested Krieger who knew he would have to produce his best judo to advance.

Krieger showed his class as he edged ahead with a yuko to which he added a second and third either side of a waza-ari. The decorated German sealed victory by ippon which saw the younger Powell face a nervous wait to see if he would be pulled into the repechage which would occur if Krieger reached the semi-final.

The German obliged and Dan Powell returned to action to a huge ovation to face Brazilian Harlley Damiao Pereira.

The tense contest was decided when Pereira illegally threw Powell with an arm lock which resulted in a disqualification and saw the young Briton through to fight for a place in the bronze medal contest.

Dan Powell entered the arena to a thunderous reception to face Cuban Isao Cruz Alonso.

Powell made a bright start and grew in confidence as the contest went on which saw him to lift Alonso for a ura-nage but the Cuban was alert to the threat and countered for ippon.

The defeat saw Powell finish a very creditable seventh-place as one of the youngest judoka in action at the Paralympics and will take great pride in his Games debut as he sets his sights on success in four years time in Rio.

Dan Powell said: “I must admit at first it is a bit of a downer but I am just buzzing over the whole day.

“Every emotion has run wild in my head and in my body. It is something else. I have never felt this before. To finish in seventh place in my first Paralympic Games, that is unbelievable for me. I would have taken that this morning.”

“I am happy to take it. Before that fight, I’d have liked more but coming away now after a bit reflection I’ll think ‘you’ve done yourself proud’.

“Two years ago I wasn’t even anywhere near getting selected, only just started taking judo a bit seriously and competing in competitions.

“I worked in a McDonalds two years ago and there was a competition for 250 people to come and serve at the Olympic Village. Now, I am actually here competing it is something else. Seventh place, that is great for me. I am made up for that. I am buzzing.”

Marc Powell, who turned 23 last Friday, came into the biggest competition of his young career on the back of an encouraging bronze medal at the VI German Open.

The older Powell brother received a first round bye which saw him make his Paralympic debut against Ukraine’s world number one Dmytro Solovey in the -73kg quarter-final.

Despite the magnitude of the occasion Marc was positive and eager to threaten the renowned Ukrainian.

After a promising opening eventual gold medallist Solovey backed up his world number one billing by throwing Marc for a waza-ari before following up with a yuko and clinching the victory with a juji-gatame as he demonstrated his full judo arsenal.

Marc Powell returned to action in the repechage against Iran’s Mohammad Ali Shanani.

The anticipated contest was held up by Ali Shanani being forced to go back to change his jacket as the sleeves were deemed too short by the referee which left Marc Powell waiting on the edge of the mat for his opponent to return.

But he was never on his own out there on the tatami, he had the immense British support behind him and went on to make a blistering start to the contest as he fired ahead after 30 seconds with a yuko.  

The first yuko came courtesy of two shido penalties against the Iranian and a third produced a waza-ari for Marc Powell inside the opening minute.

Ali Shanani was forced to go on the offensive and caught the Briton with a waza-ari of his own to bring him back to level terms before ending ParalympicsGB’s judo campaign on day two by throwing Marc Powell for ippon.

Marc Powell said: “I’ll learn from that experience, the crowd were fantastic, I have to credit the team behind me. Marc did really will and the crowd support was fantastic for both of us. It was an amazing experience, I’ve never heard a crowd like that, I’ll never forget it.” 

Like his younger brother Dan, Marc gave a great account of himself and can hold his head up high as the pair promise to be stars of the future in VI judo.