No.1 in the world at less than 81 kg, the native of Antwerp, Matthias Casse is lined up this Tuesday at the Masters where he will perform his first test in this Olympic year.
Red bracelet on his wrist, Matthias Casse was still waiting for the result of his Covid test and the green light … from the health authorities, this Saturday morning, to be able to leave his hotel room in Doha, where the Masters will be played starting of Monday. The Antwerp resident took the opportunity to respond to the Belgian press via video conference.
In the run-up to the Tokyo Games, interest in him and his career is on the rise, but the World Ranking leader (-81 Kg) removes any excessive pressure immediately.
“It is obvious that I feel special attention not only from journalists, but also from my environment, my relatives. With my results of the last two years, the expectation grows more and more. But the most important pressure on my shoulders is the I’ve worn. My goal is to win an Olympic medal, gold if possible, of course! ”
Matthias also released his schedule before July 27, the day he will enter the competition in Tokyo.
“I will participate in a tournament a month to keep up with the competition. So I will go to Tel Aviv, in February, to Tashkent, in March, to the European in Lisbon in April, to Paris in May and to the World Cup (Budapest) , in June. I think this agenda will fit me perfectly and I hope to be able to get in touch with all my possible rivals for the Games. Because these are my priority. ”
Meanwhile, the Antwerp resident will participate in the Masters, a competition that brings together the 36 best in the world by category. And it is in this category the Top 10 is present, except for the Japanese Nagase.
“It’s too early to talk about a dress rehearsal before the Games, but it’s true that most of my competitors are there. I’m ready! Probably not 100% yet, but enough to say I feel capable of doing it. beat them all. That said, I repeat: the priority target is Tokyo! ”
However, winner of this Masters last year, the 23-year-old has a title to defend… And he prepared for it during a stage abroad (the first authorized since February!), Between Christmas and New Years.
“We spent four days in Austria and believe me, we have been waiting for this for a long time! In Belgium, we are a good group with our bubble of five but, in the end, we know each other too well.” It was interesting to train, again, with others from Sweden, Switzerland, Slovenia, Croatia and of course our hosts from Austria. So I’m very curious to see what Tuesday will be like, even if I had already calmed down with my five fights and my bronze medal at the European, at the end of November, in Prague. ”
A match where Matthias lost to the young Georgian Grigalashvili. Do you want revenge?
“We’ll see what the draw holds for me, but I’m in no hurry to find him. Now, I’d like to fight him again before the Games. And, this time, beat him, I hope !!”
SOURCE: DH LES SPORTS + esports / Guy Beauclercq
PHOTOS: IJF
