The Belgian delegation is made up of 12 representatives, including Matthias Casse, who is making his return to the tatamis after skipping the European Championships in Zagreb last month.
World champion in 2021 and silver medalist in 2019, 2022 and 2023, the 27-year-old from Antwerp will embody the great hope for a medal in the -81 kg category, even if he admits not yet being “at peak of his form”, he who was a bronze medalist at the Tokyo Olympics.
“These world championships are above all a launch towards the Olympic Games,” explained Matthias Casse, world number 1 in his category, before his departure. “All the preparation is based on the Games. I am not yet at peak form. The result will therefore be less important this time, although it is a world championship and I obviously wants to achieve the best performance possible. The focus is mainly on the Games and becoming Olympic champion.
Seeded N.1, Matthias Casse will fight on Tuesday in the -81 kg category, where he will meet his great rival, the Georgian Tato Grigalashvili, double title holder and world number 2.
The first Belgians to step on the tatamis on Sunday will be Lois Petit and Ellen Salens in -48 kg, Amber Ryheul in -52 kg and Jorre Verstraeten in -60 kg.
2024-05-18 12:46:17
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