DEVIZES judoka Tom Reed hopes his call-up by England for this summer’s Commonwealth Games will be the precursor to an Olympics appearance in two years’ time.

The 27 year old, who trains at Team Bath, will represent his country in the U81 kgs category as part of a 14-strong England line-up in Glasgow in July.

Reed, pictured right, missed out on a ‘home’ Games two years ago when he failed to make the cut for Great Britain’s team for the London 2012 Olympics.

But with the two-year qualification for the 2016 Rio Games also getting under way this summer, the Devizes Budo Club member wants to hit the ground running to ensure he is clad in British colours in Brazil.

“I was gutted about London because that (the Olympics) is something that every player wants to be at and it’s the pinnacle of your sport,’’ he told the Gazette & Herald.

“The Olympics have always been my goal and that hasn’t changed, but I’m very happy with it (the Commonwealth selection).

“I’ve never fought in just an England team before and, although it’s in Glasgow, to me it’s a home event.

“Also, there is no Scottish player in my weight category, so perhaps I’ll get a bit of support there.’’

Judo has been in and out of the main Commonwealth Games programme since 1990 with Reed, who finished just outside the medals at the London British Open European Cup last weekend, finishing third in the Commonwealth championships, then run as a separate event, in New Zealand in 2004.

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