The message reads, in part:
“This tournament is inseparable from the name of Anatoly Rakhlin, a wonderful person and an outstanding trainer and mentor who did much to promote judo in Russia and who coached many talented athletes.
I would like to say that youth events like this tournament are very important and useful because they introduce young people to the values of healthy and active living and help them built character and will. Also, your tournament helps preserve Anatoly Rakhlin’s rich coaching and creative heritage, his unique ideas and experience.”
The first youth judo tournament in memory of Anatoly Rakhlin (1938–2013) was held in St Petersburg in 2013.