Salaspils SS has emerged as a dominant force in Latvian youth handball, securing championship titles in both the Under-18 and Under-17 age groups. The success marks a significant achievement for the club and its coaching staff, solidifying their position as a leading developer of young handball talent in Latvia.
The U18 championship concluded with a thrilling finish, as Salaspils SS edged out Dobeles SS for the gold medal. Dobeles SS, coached by Linda Karloviča, finished in second place, although Ludzas NSS, under the guidance of Aivars Borisovs, secured the bronze. The tournament, featuring five teams, was structured as a double round-robin regular season, culminating in decisive medal matches held at the Dobele Sports Center on March 21st and 22nd.
Salaspils SS demonstrated resilience and consistency throughout the final stage of the U18 competition. They began with a strong 35-31 victory over DKSS/Vaiņode, but faced a setback in their second game, falling to the host team, Dobeles SS, with a score of 21-27. However, the team rebounded emphatically on the second day of the final stage, securing two convincing wins: a 41-18 triumph over Ludzas NSS and a 36-19 victory against Ogres NSC. These wins proved crucial in securing the championship.
“We didn’t play the final stage as well as we had planned, but the most important thing is that we were able to defend the championship title,” said Niks Remess, the U18 coach for Salaspils SS. “In the decisive game, we didn’t execute what we needed to and didn’t realize what we do best, which complicated the situation. I also have to accept responsibility here, as I wasn’t able to motivate the team sufficiently. It’s positive that, for the first time in the last two years, we had a full and optimal roster. I am very proud of what the boys have achieved over a longer period of time – one unsuccessful game doesn’t diminish what we have accomplished together.”
Remess also expressed his satisfaction with the long-term development of the players, noting, “It’s especially gratifying that we’ve been working with most of these players since 2nd or 3rd grade, and we’ve had the opportunity to see their development and growth. Purposeful perform has yielded results not only in Latvian youth and adult championships, but also in international competitions.”
Despite a strong performance in the final stage, where Dobeles SS won all four of their matches, they ultimately fell just two points short of overtaking Salaspils SS in the overall standings, settling for the silver medal. Ludzas NSS secured the bronze medal, building their success on a strong foundation laid in the first stage of the tournament in late January in Ludza. They secured a single victory in the final stage, defeating Ogres NSC 35-26, while suffering losses to Dobeles SS (24-30), DKSS/Vaiņode (25-36), and Salaspils SS (18-41).
DKSS/Vaiņode, coached by Ainārs Pāvils, finished in fourth place, while Ogres NSC, under the direction of Andris Sosnars, rounded out the top five.
Reinis Rudko of Ogres NSC led all U18 scorers with 73 goals from 105 attempts (70% efficiency), followed by Renārs Vārna of DKSS/Vaiņode with 63 goals from 90 attempts (70% efficiency), and Markuss Ikvils of Dobeles SS with 52 goals from 76 attempts (68% efficiency).
In the U17 division, DKSS/Vaiņode, coached by Ainārs Pāvils and Zigmunds Mickus, claimed the silver medal, while Dobeles SS, led by coaches Linda Karloviča, Ņikita Pančenko, and Dainis Ruško, took home the bronze. Six teams competed in the U17 age group this season, with the top four teams advancing to a final tournament held in Riga on March 27th and 28th to determine the medal winners.
DKSS/Vaiņode demonstrated the most consistent performance throughout the regular season, securing nine wins in ten matches. Their only defeat came early in the season against Salaspils SS, who would ultimately become the champions.
The U17 semi-final matches took place on March 27th at the ASK sports hall. DKSS/Vaiņode defeated HK Rīga/Handbola skola 36-19 in the first semi-final, while Salaspils SS overcame Dobeles SS with a score of 25-20 in the second semi-final.
The medal matches were held on March 28th at the O. Kalpaka Riga People’s Theater School sports hall. In the bronze medal game, Dobeles SS defeated HK Rīga/Handbola skola 30-26. The final saw Salaspils SS deliver a dominant performance, defeating DKSS/Vaiņode 35-22 to claim the U17 championship title.
Reinis Burjāns of Salaspils SS was the top scorer in the U17 division, with 117 goals from 190 attempts (62% efficiency). Krists Barutis of DKSS/Vaiņode followed with 94 goals from 155 attempts (61% efficiency), and Kristaps Kazerovskis of Salaspils SS contributed 76 goals from 123 attempts (62% efficiency).
The final standings for the Latvian U17 Youth Championship 2025/2026 are as follows: 1. Salaspils SS (coach Nils Remess), 2. DKSS/Vaiņode (coaches Ainārs Pāvils and Zigmunds Mickus), 3. Dobeles SS (coaches Linda Karloviča, Ņikita Pančenko, and Dainis Ruško), 4. HK Rīga/Handbola skola (coaches Dmitrijs Bražņikovs and Rihards Leja), 5. Ludzas NSS (coaches Anita Puncule and Antons Gendelis), and 6. Vangažu SC (coach Daniels Lījvaks).
Salaspils SS’s double championship victory underscores the strength of their youth development program and sets a high standard for handball clubs across Latvia. The success of these young athletes promises a bright future for Latvian handball.
The next step for these teams will be preparation for the upcoming season and potential participation in regional and international youth tournaments. Keep an eye on the Latvian Handball Federation website (www.handball.lv) for further updates and schedules.
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