International Taekwon‑Do Federation

On April 6, 2024, the Riga Sports Arena played host to the traditional springtime event in Latvia Children & Youth Taekwon‑Do Games "Baltic Tiger 2024."

In 2024 its 12th edition of Games organized by the Latvian Taekwon‑Do Federation under the guidance of the pioneer of Taekwon‑Do in the Baltic states, Master Vyacheslav Semenkov.

This year, spectators were treated to the participation of athletes from 13 clubs hailing from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Sweden. Among the competitors were representatives from Ukraine, currently residing in Latvia and Estonia. Over two hundred participants from Tallinn, Vilnius, Pärnu, Uppsala, and various Latvian cities gathered across sporting venues.

Unsurprisingly, the Latvian capital, Riga, boasted a significant contingent, with a large team from the Latvian Taekwon‑Do Central School (LTCS) leading by master Vyacheslav Semenkov, coaches Sharmina Lukashevicha, Ruslan Kulik and Polina Medvedeva, as well as the unified team “Rigas Lions”. The event has been supported by the Department of Education and Sports of the Riga City Council for many years.

The “Baltic Tiger” has become a favorite tradition for athletes of the Baltic countries, known not only for the warm welcome, but also for the personal small gifts that the Latvian Taekwon‑Do Federation and the sponsors of the event present to each participant.

The young Taekwon‑Do athletes displayed emotional dedication and wholehearted commitment throughout the competition. Estonian teams also made a strong showing, with competitors from four clubs. Their performance proved formidable, posing a challenge to many other clubs.

Across four disciplines, there were a total of 397 starts, divided into four age groups: 5-7 years, 8-10 years, 11-13 years, and 14-17 years, resulting in the awarding of 100 sets of medals. The competitions venues unfolded across five rings. On three rings, young athletes showcased their Taekwon‑Do techniques in patterns and sparring, adhering to the rules of the International Taekwon‑Do Federation.

The ring four, equipped with special electronic gear called "Real Strike," determined the strongest competitors based on the 10 seconds cumulative force of kicks.

The ring five hosted a Team Relay Race involving overcoming obstacle courses. This unique event, exclusive to our Baltic Taekwon‑Do Games, sparked joyous emotions among the children, especially with the addition of a new and unique inflatable course provided by our partners from Piepusamie.lv.

In summarizing the event, it's worth noting that this year, the Estonian “Katleri Shogen club” emerged as the dominant force, clinching the overall team title with an impressive 186 points and a medal count of 16 gold, 12 silver, and 6 bronze. In second place was a team from Pärnu with 124 points and a medal tally of 12 gold, 3 silver, and 7 bronze. The Riga-based LTCS team secured the third place with 109 points and medals distributed as 8 gold, 9 silver, and 10 bronze.

The organizing committee, led by the president of the Latvian Taekwon‑Do Federation, Master Vyacheslav Semenkov, extends its gratitude to the Riga City Council's Department of Education and Sports for their support and co-financing of the event. Additionally, we thank our partner sponsors from “Torņu ielas saldumi”, “Tampers”, and A/S “Balticom” for their long-term collaboration and assistance in organizing the competitions.