03/09/2016 10:16
Latvia’s youngsters know the road to hit to follow in their heroes’ footsteps
2016 CEV Beach Volleyball European Championship - Jurmala Masters
Jurmala, Latvia, September 3, 2016. There is no doubt that Janis Smedins and Aleksandrs Samoilovs – as well as the other stars competing at this week’s CEV Jurmala Masters – are inspiring the next generation of Latvian Beach Volleyball players. To realise that, you just need to take a short walk next to the imposing centre court the organisers have built by the sea and you bump into four kids playing Beach Volleyball using trash cans as some kind of fictional net.
The group consists of four young Beach Volleyballers in the making – Ralfs, Mikus, Janis and Ansis. They are 11 or 12 years old and already play Beach Volleyball in their spare time, even practicing up to three times a week. Inspired by Samoilovs and Smedins, they have taken up the sport and have been playing their favourite game also at Brazilija, the state-of-the-art indoor Beach Volleyball centre which opened a few years ago in Latvia’s capital, Riga.
“We really like Beach Volleyball very much,” they say. And Janis Smedins seems to be a real hero and role model since three of the four have singled him out as their favourite player – only one, Ansis, has opted for Edgars Tocs. “It is amazing to see how these elite players act on court and we especially like it when there are long, exciting rallies or when they hit the ball really hard.”
They all come from Riga or from the outskirts of the Latvian capital and seem to be enjoying their time on Majori beach. They speak fluent English and that is kind of surprising for such young kids. “This tournament is a unique opportunity to see some of the best players first hand. At the same time, we know that the Jurmala Masters is being broadcast on TV and on the Internet as well, so there is a chance that our family and friends will get to see us on TV,” they add with a smile.
Asked whether they are planning to play the game in the future as well, their answer is pretty straight forward: “Of course! And hopefully one day we will be as strong as Janis and Aleksandrs and we will also be able to play for Latvia at the Olympics,” is their unanimous reply.
The organisation and delivery of any tournament like the Jurmala Masters should not only provide elite athletes with a stage to perform, but also inspire the young generations to follow in their footsteps. By listening to Ralfs, Mikus, Janis and Ansis, you may well think that the organisers of the tournament on Majori beach have already accomplished this mission. And more source of inspiration will surely be provided when Jurmala hosts next year’s European Championship Final.
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