Once again Zigmars Puikevics and his team delivered another fantastic tournament in Riga over the weekend with the players and supporters enjoying another perfectly organised Latvian Open.
Young Griffiths Dominates On His Return
After his amazing run to the final of the European Championships in Vienna last year, young GB player Leon Griffiths (18 years old) returned to the Racketlon World Tour in Riga and totally dominated the elite field with no player able to get near him. After not needing his tennis racket through the first few rounds he went on to face his GB team mate, doubles partner and world no.3 Dan Busby in the final.
After a comfortable 21-13 win at TT and a crushing 21-4 win on the badminton court, the match at +25 to Griffiths was effectively over. The impressive youngster then managed to take 16 points from the squash specialist Busby meaning he would at least have to use his tennis racket…but only for 2 points as a 2-0 win at tennis ensured Griffiths cruised to the Latvian Open title with a +22 victory and he has now made a big statement ahead of the World Championships next month.
After impressive victories against the 3rd and 4th seeds Mohammed Tarik Koubaa and Arturs Zaicevs, the Czech player Michael Horacek claimed 3rd place.
Seehofer Continues Her Impressive Form
Chrissie Seehofer’s preparations for the World Championships continued very smoothly as once again she cruised through her matches to claim yet another World Tour title in Riga. Anna-Klara Ahlmer (Sweden) continued her return to action with a good win over quickly improving young Brit Hannah Boden to claim 2nd place with Boden taking 3rd.
Elsewhere in the other draws, Finland showed they are a country that is once again beginning to produce some quality players, as Finnish players claimed titles in the Men’s B and under 21’s as well as in the Senior’s 50+ and 60+.
All singles and doubles results across the weekend can be viewed HERE
Duncan Stahl / FIR general Secretary
Photo Credit: Lindsay Johnson Farge
