Riga is ready for action once again this weekend, 21–22 March, as it welcomes 254 judoka from 27 nations, both from Europe and overseas for their annual Senior European Cup. The city, which announced less than 24 hours ago that it will host the inaugural Ne-waza European Championships later this year, continues to prove itself a trusted partner, with the country’s dedication to development nothing short of exceptional.
This marks the second event in Latvia this year, following the opening Veteran Cup. Delegations arrive with varied objectives: some athletes are returning from injury and seeking to regain form, others are focused on development, while several are aiming to secure a place within their respective teams for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Mihail Latisev (MDA, -90kg), Abu Dhabi Grand Slam 2025 silver medallist and U23 European silver medallist in 2025, is the highest-ranked athlete in the field. Still, this weekend is not about ranking; it is about development, progress and opportunity. Even regular competitors on the IJF World Tour can benefit from events such as this.
John Jayne (USA, -90kg), bronze medallist at the 2025 Pan-American Championships, follows closely and competes in the same category as Latisev. With LA 2028 drawing ever nearer and with the host nation not required to meet international qualification standards, consistency remains key for the American. Another to watch in the -90kg category is Dominik Družeta (CRO). A regular on the IJF World Tour, he last stood on the podium at the Sarajevo European Open in October 2025. Sometimes, taking a step back to regroup is essential and this event may provide exactly that opportunity for the Croatian judoka, who won here two years ago and has four Senior European Cup medals to his name.
A similar narrative surrounds Družeta’s teammate, Dora Bortaš (CRO, -57kg), who finished fifth at the Upper Austrian Grand Prix 2026. While the setting changes in Riga, maintaining continuity in performance will be key.
Lars Vissers (NED, -100kg) arrives following a silver-medal performance at the Warsaw European Open 2026 last weekend. The 2024 Junior European Champion continues his strong run of form.
Among the rising talents, Narek Vardanian (SWE, -73kg), silver medallist at the 2025 Junior European Championships, is one to watch. Still a junior, he already claimed gold earlier this year at the Portimão Junior European Cup and continues to test himself at senior level. Joining from the junior ranks is Jakob Vares (EST, -100kg), also a silver medallist at the 2025 Junior European Championships. Vares has been gaining experience on the Grand Prix circuit and Riga offers a valuable platform to build confidence and progress through each round.
The host nation fields a strong team of 29 judoka, led by Anastasija Sokirjanska (LAT, -57kg). Her last podium finish came, fittingly, in Riga in 2023, where she claimed gold at this very event. Since then, she has come close on several occasions, often finishing just outside the medals, and will be eager to convert those near-misses into success on home soil.
Watch the event live online via JudoTV.
Author: Szandra Szogedi