DEVIZES judoka Tom Reed admits he will be adopting a care-free attitude on his World Championship debut – but has vowed to ensure that can’t be the case at the London 2012 Olympics, writes HOWARD LLOYD.

The 24-year-old is one of eight debutants on the 21-strong British team picked to travel to Japan – the birthplace of judo – for the worlds, which were getting underway today.

Reed – a former Devizes School pupil – is no stranger to the international stage having claimed bronze at the European U23 Championships in 2006 before upgrading that to silver a year later.

The Devizes judoka’s selection represents marked progress with the 2012 Olympics less than two years away but while he wants to play a starring role in the capital, Reed admits he is happy to takes his world bow as it comes.

“I think for me personally, being my first worlds, there’s a bit less pressure on me, so it gives me an excellent platform which I can hopefully shine from,” said Reed – who fights in the -81kg category.

“It is a great opportunity for me to just do my best and show everyone what I can do without the huge weight of expectation on my shoulders.

“Although everyone has their eye on 2012, without a shadow of a doubt, and it is just so competitive to get into the British team that anything could happen between now and then.

“We are all working really hard for each spot, which is obviously great for each other because we’re pushing each other on.

“There are about six or seven players at my weight alone who are all very firmly set on going to the 2012 Games so everyone is training really hard for it.

“Over the next couple of years, I really have to push myself onto the same level as the best players in the world, I’m obviously also desperate to win a medal too.”

Reed will compete in the -81kg category alongside Euan Burton – seven years his senior, a Beijing Olympian and three-time and one-time European and world bronze medallist respectively – in Japan.

However Reed – a Devizes Budo Club member – believes Burton’s continued presence is proving, and will prove to be, a constant help and not hindrance.

“We’ve got a real mixture of young and old in the squad,” he added “Some have a lot of experience like Euan while some others don’t have a lot at all.

“It’s a real blend and some have just come out of the junior competitions while others have competed at Olympic Games – but I think it is a good mixture.

“I’m kind of on the fringe at the moment and in a kind of transition having just come from the juniors, so I really need to push on and compete with the seniors.

“It would be nice to take a medal away from the World Championship but I suppose some good performances are more important.”

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