RIGA, Latvia – Four young judokas from Liepāja Complex Sports School returned home with medals from the “Dzintara Kauss” tournament held in Riga this past weekend, a strong showing for the Latvian program. The tournament, organized by the Latvian Judo Federation, saw all four athletes representing Liepāja reach the podium, according to a statement from Simona Laiveniece, press representative for the Liepāja Complex Sports School.
The success at the “Dzintara Kauss” highlights the growing strength of judo within Liepāja and Latvia as a whole. The Latvian Judo Federation has been actively promoting youth participation through a national tour featuring 11 tournaments throughout the country this year, aiming to motivate young athletes and recognize their achievements. The Latvian Judo Federation detailed their efforts to foster a thriving junior judo scene.
Ksenija Kaštaļjanova secured the gold medal in the U12 category, competing in the -29kg weight class. Milena Petrova earned a silver medal in the U16 division, fighting in the -57kg category. Sofija Stroganova also claimed a silver, competing in the U14 -52kg weight class. Completing the medal haul, Milana Kuzmina took home a bronze in the U12 -44kg category.
The “Dzintara Kauss” tournament, now in its second year of being held in honor of International Women’s Day (March 8th), also recognized the contributions of female coaches and athletes. Oksana Kļačkovska, the team’s coach, shared her thoughts on the performance. “The federation has been hosting this tournament for the second year in a row to honor March 8th – all coaches and athletes were celebrated,” Kļačkovska said. “I brought four athletes to the competition, and all of them won medals. Milena and Sofija were very close to winning the championship in their weight categories. They all did great, they all fought. Maybe some lacked courage or experience. We will continue to work!”
The Liepāja Complex Sports School, a professional sports education institution, offers training in a variety of disciplines including sport gymnastics, artistic gymnastics, swimming, boxing, judo, Greco-Roman wrestling, chess, and table tennis. More information about the school and its programs can be found on their website. The school’s commitment to developing young athletes is clearly bearing fruit, as evidenced by the recent success at the “Dzintara Kauss.”
This tournament comes on the heels of other significant judo events in Latvia. Just this week, Latvian judoka Aleksandrs Avdejevs secured a bronze medal at the Junior European Cup in Portimão, Portugal, competing in the -81kg weight class. Avdejevs’ performance included victories over opponents from the United States, Spain, and Israel before falling to a competitor from Kyrgyzstan in the semi-finals. The Latvian Judo Federation celebrated Avdejevs’ achievement, highlighting the growing talent within the nation’s judo program.
Looking ahead, Riga will host the Senior European Cup in Judo from March 21st to 22nd at the Riga National Sports Manege. This event will attract top judokas from across Europe, providing a platform for high-level competition and valuable ranking points. The Latvian Judo Federation is encouraging fans to attend and support the athletes.
The Liepāja team’s performance at the “Dzintara Kauss” is a testament to the dedication of the athletes, coaches, and the Liepāja Complex Sports School. It also underscores the growing momentum of judo in Latvia, with both junior and senior athletes achieving success on the national and international stage. The next step for these young athletes will be continued training and preparation for future competitions, building on the foundation laid at the “Dzintara Kauss.”
What’s Next: The Latvian Judo Federation will host the Senior European Cup in Riga from March 21st-22nd. Stay tuned to the Latvian Judo Federation website for updates and schedules.
What are your thoughts on the rising talent in Latvian judo? Share your comments below!
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