Fighting Spirit and Family Pride Light Up Day Two in Riga
Autor: Szandra Szogedi
Zuerst veröffentlicht bei / First published at: Fighting Spirit and Family Pride Light Up Day Two in Riga
The second day of the European Judo Championships Veterans Riga 2025 brought thrilling action from the M3–M4 categories, alongside ne-waza contests for the F1–3 and M1–3 divisions. Although the day started off slowly, the final block more than made up for it, delivering plenty of high-energy bouts and well-deserved standing ovations. France continues to top the overall medal table with an impressive haul of 12 gold, 12 silver and 20 bronze medals. Germany holds second place (7-5-10), while Georgia (5-9-7) currently sits in third.
Colin Francis (GBR) faced a challenging start to the day with a loss to Jorge Galan Barbosa (ESP). However, the round-robin format provided him with a second chance, which he seized to secure victory in the M3 -60kg category. The 40-year-old judoka, a dedicated member of the British Royal Marines and a multiple-time silver medallist, expressed his joy following the win:
“It feels fantastic, especially as I have accumulated several silver medals over the years, this is my first gold. Admittedly, the initial loss was difficult to take but with the support around me, I was able to regroup and come back stronger. This result is a significant step forward, and now my focus shifts to the World Championships. I am hopeful that the streak of silvers is behind me and that I can aim for gold on the world stage too.”
Ireland’s John Dennis battled his way through a highly competitive, M4 -81kg, category to secure a place for his country on the overall medal table. Winning the majority of his contests with positive scores and demonstrating breathtaking ashi-waza skills in his final bout, Dennis was delighted to discuss his thoughts:
“Thank you very much, I am feeling really good, very pleased with the result. Training back home can be a challenge. Irish judo isn’t the most developed but I try to train every day. Some days are better than others, sometimes we have got good numbers on the mat, sometimes not, but it’s definitely improving. I am based in Dublin, and today’s highlight was definitely the final. I came here to win, not just to medal, and I am proud to have achieved that.
“It means the world to have my family here. My wife, my parents, my sister and her family, and my wife’s family, all of them came to support me. My wife is actually from Latvia. Judo runs in the family: there are seven of us siblings and we all practise the sport. That makes it extra special.”
The current ne-waza rules were applied during this phase of the tournament, offering a valuable learning experience for everyone involved, athletes, spectators, and officials alike. Beata Pepera (POL) claimed victory in the F1–3 -63kg category, and as she explained, the result came as no surprise.
“I feel absolutely fantastic but to be honest, it’s not a surprise for me. Ne-waza has always been my favourite discipline and the part of judo I enjoy most. It is where I am strongest and I truly believe it’s what I do best. The current rules suit my style as well, which definitely helps. I don’t train separately or follow a special programme just for ne-waza. I train judo as a complete art, but naturally, I gravitate towards groundwork whenever I can. It is where I feel most at home on the tatami.”
On the third day of the event, competitions will feature athletes from the M1–M2 and F1–F9 categories. Watch the action live online at JudoTV.com.
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