Rei Higuchi, who won the silver medal in the men's freestyle 57-kilogram class at the World Wrestling Championships held in Serbia and was unofficially selected to represent the team at next year's Paris Olympics, returned to Japan on the 21st and expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "I want to improve further so that I can win the gold medal at the Paris Games."
At the World Wrestling Championships, which began in Serbia on the 16th of this month, Japan athletes will be selected for next year's Paris Olympics if they finish in the top three in each weight class.
Higuchi won the silver medal in the men's freestyle 3 kg class on the 57th and returned to Japan on the 18st.
Speaking to the press at Narita Airport, he said, "I went into the World Championships with the sole goal of winning the championship, so I came back feeling very frustrated. I want to make good use of this time to improve myself so that I can win a gold medal at the Paris Olympics next year."
In the 21 kg class, TAKATANI Daichi won the bronze medal and was selected for the national team along with Higuchi.
Based on his experience of supporting his brother Sosuke, who participated in three consecutive Olympic Games, Takatani said, "I thought it would be impossible for me to participate in the Olympics, but I am very happy that I was able to accumulate stones one by one and achieve the result," and shared his joy with his wife, Fusano Fusano, who greeted him at the airport.
On top of that, he said, "I think we have a hellish practice ahead, but we want to take care of each and every single day."