Seeded second in the tournament, the Latvian duo completed a stellar youth career run by claiming the only age-group title that had previously eluded them on the international stage.
Path to the Championship Match
Fokerots and Auziņš booked their ticket to the gold medal clash by overcoming Norway’s Even Olus and Sebastian Kjemperud, who were seeded third, with a straight-sets victory of 2-0 (21-12, 21-19) in the semifinals. Their journey through the elimination rounds showcased consistent dominance on the sand. In the round of 16 on Saturday, the Latvian pair dispatched Italy’s Gabriele Da Costa and Matteo Markezāns 2-0 (21-14, 21-17), followed by a 2-0 (21-14, 21-16) quarterfinal win over Finnish brothers Veeti and Konsta Viljamaa.
The final against Lithuania’s Piesinas and Sinkevičius presented a tense Baltic derby. The Lithuanians, seeded eighth in the tournament, pushed the second-seeded Latvians in both sets, but Fokerots and Auziņš closed out the match 21-18 and 21-19 to secure the championship.
Completing a Youth Career Sweep
The victory in the U-22 European final marks the final piece of an extraordinary youth-level puzzle for the partnership. Fokerots and Auziņš have established themselves as one of the most prolific youth beach volleyball pairs in recent history. Their trophy cabinet features gold at the 2022 European U-18 Championship in Greece, the 2022 FIVB U-19 World Championship in Turkey, the 2024 European U-20 Championship in Poland, and the 2025 U-21 World Championship in Mexico.
Prior to capturing this U-22 gold, this specific age-group title remained the lone gap in their otherwise flawless youth resume. Last season, Fokerots competed in the U-22 age division alongside Olivers Bulgacs, where they reached the final before falling to a French duos team.
Success for the Latvian Women’s Team
Latvia’s medal success extended into the women’s tournament, where the duo of Līva Ēbere and Deniela Konstantinova competed for the gold medal later in the evening.
Keep reading
