The 26-year-old Casse had indicated in advance that the Masters, together with the European and World Championships, was a peak moment in the season for him and he felt completely ready. So it turned out.
In his first match he knocked out the Mongolian Bolor-Ochir Gereltuya (IJF 31) with ippon. He then won in the quarterfinals against the Japanese Kenya Kohara (IJF 20). He had defeated him in June at the Grand Slam in the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar, after which the Japanese then won gold.
In the semifinals, Casse came on the mat against the Azeri Saeid Mollaei (IJF 3). Our compatriot beat the former world champion and reigning Olympic vice champion with waza-ari.
In the final, Casse did not meet his eternal rival Tato Grigalashvili, but the Brazilian Guilherme Schimidt (IJF 8). In his semifinal, he surprised the Georgian world champion, who had been undefeated for more than a year.
But the stunt against Grigalashvili could not be repeated by young Schimidt against Casse. After less than half a minute, our compatriot was able to unpack with a waza-ari. Then Casse checked the camp, Schimidt had no chance.
Casse takes gold at the Masters for the second time in his career, after his triumph in 2019 in Qingdao, China. Last year he had to be satisfied with bronze in the Israeli capital Jerusalem.
“Surprisingly smooth”, Matthias Casse took his gold medal at the Masters. “It went easier than expected.”
“Today gives a lot of confidence. It indicates that we are doing well. I could easily stick to our plan. I did win the competition, but that does not mean that I was flawless.”
Those mistakes have to be removed if Casse also wants to shine at his big goal: the Olympic Games in Paris next summer.
“We have to adjust that, but I can say that I am on schedule. This gold medal is a boost towards Paris.”
2023-08-06 03:53:39
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