Judo, the sport that challenged the pandemic.

Sportsmen like Distria Krasniqi, Laura Fazliu's Loriana Kuka, led by coach Driton Kuka brought Kosovo very important trophies, gold, silver and bronze medals.

Judo coach Driton Kuka has declared for Kosova Pres, that the Comid 19 pandemic has also directly affected the Judo team by making their work very difficult, but that the great sacrifice they have made has finally been rewarded with significant trophies.

And we've had extraordinary challenges this year. We've been trying to manage it at that time when we've all been closed so that we can somehow have a context because the Olympics were unknown or held. But finally it was decided to postpone the Olympics and then we slightly changed the strategy, three months we've been quarantined, we've continued the exercises, then we've changed the mode until the competition started in September. [...] What caused us trouble was the virus when it entered a part of the team, we had half. 1/3 of the team has gone to the race, while others have been, I'm talking about the European Championship, the most important race, others have had to be isolated. We've arrived from three contestants again with two medals. It's the only elite medals for the Kosovo sport, not just for the judo, but for all sports. This makes me feel good because all that competition sacrifices during the pandemic in some form have paid off”, Kuka said.

Kuka talking about Kosovo Preress, has said support from the state was at the right level during the time of pandemic and while they were participating in European competitions. It even calls for further support.

We have had good co-operation with both the ministry and the Kosovo Olympic Committee, with which we have felt these sports problems, the problems of racers, clubs and the state has actually been at the right level in support of the sport. I am confident that this will continue further because we are now entering the Olympic year where we will have many races, many jobs, many sacrifices, many challenges, but I believe this will be crowned with medals at the” Olympic Games, Kuka said.

As for 2021, Kuka has said that the aim of the Judo team next year is to return with medals from all three competitions expected to participate as the European Championship, the World Judo Championship, and the Olympic Games.

There are many races waiting for us, the European Championship will mean next year the World Championship will be held in judo, but the goal is the Olympics anyway. I'm guessing we'll return with medals from these three big races. That's what we're aiming at, but I believe the team is working well. So far in almost every race we went to, we went back with medals and I believe this trend will continue. It hasn't happened in almost four, five years not to return without a medal from any” contest, Kuka stressed.

That Pandemia COVID-19, put them ahead of major difficulties, even the jungles such as Distria Krasniqi, Loriana Kuka and Laura Fazliu. However, they point out that this will not hold back.

Their goals are to reap new successes in the sport even during 2021.

This year's “has been hard enough that the work that has been the total pandemic. Once we've been closed for about three months, we've been practicing... . Finally, in November, the competitions started, and it's been a good time to feel this sense of competition, and it's even better that we've got medals. The main goal is next year's Olympics, I hope that even there I have been in the right shape to get a medal of”, Kuka said.

The other Judito, Laura Fazliu, despite the difficulties he faced, describes him as successful in 2020. And for 2021, it aims to join the Olympic team.

The normal year has been difficult because of our pandemic, but we've been practicing constantly, never stopped. I've won two medals at the European Championships in-20 and U-23... . The year has been a tough one, but it's generally been all right... . For 2021, I hope that why not I follow the Olympic rate, I joined the Olympic team”, Fazliu stressed.

On the other hand, the jungle that ended in 2020, the first world rankingr, Distria Krasniqi, has said that during the year we left behind by three held races has returned with medals. One such goal, she has her entire team in 2021 when the Olympics will take place.

She says her goal in any race is to set up the Kosovo state flag, and especially in those states which have not yet recognised Kosovo.

I've had a lot of difficulties this year, but despite all the difficulties, I've managed to end the year as the first in the world ranking, so I call it a very successful year where I've participated in three races, and in all three races I've returned with a medal so it's been a very good year for me. I will prepare a lot for the Olympics that will be held next year, and I hope that the Kosovo team and I will all go and participate in the Olympics will have the best performance even if they do not return with medals. [...] Every time we go to the race I intend to make my country proud and raise the flag in all states, especially states that have not accepted Kosovo as a state”, Krasniqi said.

Otherwise, recently, Minister for Culture, Youth and Sports Vlora Dymosh has awarded state awards to the Judo team for the successes achieved during 2020.