Graudiņa hopes to help Ēbere and Konstantinova qualify for European Championship
At the Nations Cup finals in Cēsis, Latvian beach volleyball players are competing not only for victory but also for an additional quota for the 2026 European Championship, which is crucial for duos that failed to qualify by ranking.
During the Nations Cup finals in Cēsis, Latvia's beach volleyball representatives are pursuing two goals: winning the tournament and helping teammates secure a spot at the European Championship. The winners of the event will earn an extra quota for the 2026 European Championship, scheduled for August 12–16. This is especially important for the duos Līva Ēbere/Deniela Konstantinova and Edgars Točs/Gustavs Auziņš, who currently cannot qualify based on ranking points.
Latvia is represented by four pairs: Tīna Graudiņa/Anastasija Samoilova, Mārtiņš Pļaviņš/Kristians Fokerots, Edgars Točs/Gustavs Auziņš, and Līva Ēbere/Deniela Konstantinova. Edgars Točs noted the high level of competition, as the tournament features the best European teams, and highlighted the sense of national pride. He emphasized that this tournament might be his and Auziņš's last chance to enter the championship, and the prize money is also significant.
Tīna Graudiņa expressed that she and Samoilova view this tournament as crucial preparation for the European Championship, their main goal of the season. She openly admitted that she very much wants to help Ēbere and Konstantinova qualify, recalling her own early career when participating as hosts in the European Championship was a key stepping stone. Graudiņa added that in the match against Italy, they might try an unconventional tactic, as both teams have already secured advancement. A win would also give them a free evening on Friday.
