Kosovo makes its golden name at Olympics through judo

By Mutlu Demirtastan

ISTANBUL (AA) – The tiny nation of Kosovo – one of the world’s youngest – can be proud of its performance in the Olympics this year, as it is bringing home two gold medals in judo from the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Kosovo, which declared its independence in 2008 and was recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 2014, this year is competing in the Games for only the second time in its history.

Despite its short history, Kosovo, Europe’s youngest country, started to make a name for itself in the international arena with over a thousand licensed judoka.

- A name to remember: Driton Toni Kuka

When you tell the story of judo in Kosovo, Driton Toni Kuka blazed the way for the country’s current success.

Kuka was among the most important athletes on the Yugoslav National Judo Team before the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games.

But his dream of a medal remained out of reach, as Yugoslavia was dragged into war and Kosovo athletes could not take part in the games.

Kuka later contributed to his country by founding judo academies.

The athletes he trained there paved the way for Kosovo to make a name for itself through sports, even as it is still not recognized by some countries.

- 3 Olympic gold medals, all in judo

With three Olympic gold medals under its belt, Kosovo got all of them in judo.

Kosovo won its first Olympic gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games with Majlinda Kelmendi in the women's 52kg.

At Tokyo 2020, Kosovo took the women's gold with Distria Krasniqi at 48kg and Nora Gjakova at 57kg.

At the end of the first three days of Tokyo 2020, Kosovo had an impressive rank of eighth on the medal table.

- International successes in judo

Kosovo has enjoyed great successes at international judo events.

Kosovar athletes, who have competed in the international arena since 2009, have won two gold and four bronze medals in the world championships and four gold, one silver, and three bronze medals in the Masters tournaments, in addition to their success at the Olympics.

Kosovars also won 26 gold, 13 silver and 11 bronze medals in the Grand Prix and 12 gold, five silver, and seven bronze medals in Grand Slam events

*Writing by Selcuk Bugra Gokalp