Other events in Baltic States

A tragic traffic accident happened on Sunday in Latvia, 30 km from Rezekne, with a minibus transporting young Estonian judo wrestlers: one of the coaches of the Estonian judo team, Vladimir Klinkov, who drove the bus, was killed in the accident, LETA/Public Broadcasting reports.

Seven children were injured, four of them were taken to the local hospital. There were eight people in the bus: kids from judo club Põhjakotkas (North Eagle) and their coach, who were on their way to an international Christmas tournament in Alūksne.

Latvian police said the bus drove off the road due to unknown reasons and turned over. The bus driver was killed in the accident, four children were taken to the hospital.

"This is obviously a great loss not only for the club, but first and foremost for the whole Estonian judo," said Põhjakotkas club member Valeri Duran.

"For Estonia judo, it means that we lost another good coach, Vladimir. First of all, he was a good person. I knew him when I myself was a young athlete, thus I feel so sorry. Very little can be said here – many of our coaches drive vehicles and transport athletes to competitions, and that's why such things happen, very sad. I can only express sympathy," Estonian national judo team chief coach Aleksei Budylin said.

Vladimir Klinkov was multiple Estonian champion in judo and sambo. Since 1995, he worked as a coach at the club Põhjakotkas. Vladimir Klinkov was of 47 years of age.