Matthias Casse, the world number 1 in -81 kg, is notably absent from the Belgian delegation. The Antwerp player is betting everything on the Olympic Games in Paris this summer and until then will only compete in the world championships in Abu Dhabi from May 19 to 24. “It’s a shame, but it doesn’t fit into his schedule,” explained Robin Jacobs, his manager, to Agence BELGA on Tuesday. “Three tournaments in a row is a bit much. It was his coach, Mark van der Ham, who made the decision, even if Matthias would have preferred to be able to do everything. It’s not reasonable to be able to be at the top in these three tournaments. The ideal would have been to see the World Cups played after the Olympics. But that’s the way it is. We’re dropping the Euro to focus on good preparation.”
Matthias Casse won the Paris and Taskhent Grand Slam tournaments this year.
The Belgian delegation in Zagreb will therefore be made up of Jorre Verstraeten (-60 kg), Jarne Duyck (-81kg), Sami Chouchi (-90kg) and Toma Nikiforov (-100) among the men.
For the ladies, Loïs Petit and Ellen Salens (-48kg), Amber Ryheul (-52kg), Mina Libeer (-57kg), Alessia Corrao (-63kg), Gabriella Willems (-70kg) and Vicky Verschaere (-78kg) are registered to fight on the tatami mats in Croatia.
2024-04-09 12:37:04
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