Riga wraps up with a globe-spanning podium — Europe still leads the story

The Riga Senior European Cup 2026 came to an exciting finish on Sunday, 22 March at the Rīgas Nacionālā Sporta Manēža. The final day had a simple, striking theme: every gold medal went to a different nation. It gave the event a true international feel, even as European teams continued to show their depth across the weekend.

In women’s -48 kg, Wiktoria Slazok (POL) made the most of a compact draw. After winning her preliminary contest to reach the final, she faced Sara Cesselli (ITA) in a tight, careful battle that refused to break open in regular time. The match pushed into golden score, where Slazok found the decisive edge and closed out the win.

One extra exchange can flip an entire tournament day.

For Slazok, the result carried extra meaning. She described the road to gold as demanding, with both contests stretching her physically, and she ended the day feeling drained. Coming at her third straight event, the title also marked her second senior-level medal, a steady step forward rather than a sudden jump. Her next competition isn’t confirmed, but her message was consistent: keep building, keep pushing.

Men’s -90 kg featured one of the most controlled runs of the weekend, led by Mihail Latisev (MDA). In a 24-athlete field, he moved through the bracket with composure and then beat John Jayne (USA) in the final with authority. Latisev said the day unfolded largely as planned, noting that he needed a brief adjustment in his opening exchange before settling into his rhythm. His attention now turns to Tbilisi and the Senior European Championships.

Europe’s overall success was clear on the medal table. Germany finished on top with three golds and four bronzes, followed by Ukraine with two golds, three silvers and additional bronze medals. Sweden rounded out the top three with two golds, one silver and one bronze. The tour doesn’t slow down, either: in just a few days, the next stop is Dubrovnik.

Source: EJU_News