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On March 31, in Riga, in the “Volvo” hall, the World Ice Hockey Championship for women in the first division group B began. It’s interesting: while preparing for this tournament, Latvian hockey players played a test match with Poland and won 3:0. On Sunday, they lost the first game 1:7 to Slovakia, but on Monday they beat Italy 3:2. Yesterday we had to admit the superiority of Slovenia, but the most important thing is yet to come. This year, watching the ladies on the ice, you can’t miss a colorful family – the senior national team player Aija Balode is playing with her two daughters. The whole family in hockey, which also plays in the national team, is a unique event not only in Latvia, but also at the world level. Each of them fulfills their role, which makes the interaction even more interesting: Kristiana is the goalkeeper, Agnes the striker, while Aija herself plays in defense. Hockey players often say that the team is their hockey family. All three talk about what it’s like when a hockey family is also a real family.
Hockey player – mother of four children
“Well, you asked,” laughs Aija, when I asked how to apply her to this article. After a moment of reflection, however, she says – the mother of four children. Aija is the oldest player of the Latvian women’s national team, and she stands on the ice with her daughters Kristiana and Agnes Apsīte. “I have been in women’s hockey since the moment it entered Latvia. Before that I was a figure skater, and I must say that I had no interest in hockey. In figure skating, I had also skated up to national team candidates, but as times changed, I realized that I needed to look for new horizons. I tried hockey – immediately liked it. Completely different emotions! Different ones. Figure skating is an individual sport, hockey is a team sport. You don’t have to fight alone here, teammates support and help,” says Aija. Now she herself trains the younger generation in the longest-standing Latvian women’s hockey club “Laima”.
Around the world from a young age
Kristiana is 23 years old, Agnes is 25. It is easy to read that they are sisters – they agree with each other a lot. At least for hockey. Christiana already became a hero in this year’s championship, as she saved 42 of 44 shots from the Italians. Almost 100%! Both got on skates at the age of 3. At the same time, he was engaged in swimming, but hockey was closer to his heart. At the age of ten, Christiana entered the goal, and Agnes started to play in the attack. “It was a dream to play in the US university team. Filled! After that, I got to live and play in several countries around the world,” the young women say. Currently, both are playing for Salzburg “Eagles” in Austria. Taujatas, wondering how to combine professional sports and social life, says that sports does not cancel social life and friendships. On the contrary – everything is formed with and around hockey! Moreover, quite intensively, because after a wide exchange of experiences, Agnes and Kristiana have many friends all over the world. “If you need to visit someone, you can always talk,” they are happy.
One game – all emotions
There is a belief that women are more sensitive than men. Women’s hockey fans also say that the games are much more interesting because there are more glorious emotions on the ice. “And that’s why hockey is suitable for women. You are both angry and happy during the game. Hopeless in places, but you get there quickly. We go through a very bright range of emotions, while at the same time being able to collect ourselves well so as not to go out of the frame. There is a lot of adrenaline,” says the hockey family. At the moment, everyone has a busy schedule – preparing for the championship, you have to train both in the club and individually. You must also participate in camps every six months. It is significant that when training in hockey, so-called dry training – off the ice – is mandatory. To achieve even better results, you should improve your physical fitness by working in the gym. Doing it with family is even more interesting, because they support each other not only as a team, but also as loved ones. Sometimes we have to argue, because after the game on the way home we discuss our performance, but everyone has their own vision and understanding of how it should have been. However, there are of course many more benefits. Aija admits that it was also necessary to deliberately leave the role of mother on the ice, because the daughters themselves are professionals who do not need instructions.
Listen to the children, do not be afraid of the parents
Little girls and hockey practice? Why not! Aija Balode believes that children should be listened to, but parents should not be afraid. “Come see how those trainings are going! If a daughter wants to train in ice hockey, it should not be said that it is not a girl’s sport. It’s not the eternal story of blue eyes and dead teeth,” she says. “Actually, it’s much more difficult to get injured in women’s hockey because we have different equipment. I am also glad that there is a huge difference between my generation and my daughters’ generation in terms of what a woman should or should not do. When the daughters were small and trained with the boys, their place on the ice was sometimes questioned not only by teammates, but also by coaches. Nowadays, you won’t surprise anyone with a woman on the ice – and that’s a good thing. It should also be remembered that professional sports are always more than just sports. Hockey inculcates character qualities: teamwork, cooperation, the ability to cooperate with others even in situations of great crisis. Discipline is formed: when you come to training, you will have to do what you are told, not what you want. And it must be done to the end.”
Local sports should be played further
“I watch Latvian television, for example Panorama. All I hear is mostly highbrow sports. Abroad. I invite you – let’s talk more about us, locals, Latvians! I would like to hear more about what is happening here in the media, at least in one news, at least once a day. How ours play. And not only hockey – all sports. Local companies, on the other hand, could support Latvian sports more – as this year’s women’s hockey championship is supported by Olainfarm, which is the first supporter of this level that I know of, specifically for women’s hockey in Latvia. Local sports must play on! But I… I am already 49, but as long as my health allows, I will stand on the ice. I live and do what I like,” concludes Aija.
2024-04-04 11:37:33
#ladies #family #play #Latvian #womens #hockey #team
