Majlinda Kelmendi reveals the problem of young Judgers and “The golden advice” of Driton Kukes

She's practicing the Judo coach's profession and is focused on discovering and preparing young Judists for international successes, always having the support of the best coach in the world, Driton Kuka.

Her first year as a coach, Kelmendi considers it difficult, but he says that they made the successs of the judo reached in the international arena during 2022.

It's been a full year of challenges for me, considering that I've started a new career as a coach, and really the beginning of every other job has been difficult, but I've always mentioned that I'm very lucky to have Tony close by and I have it from who I can learn. He has generally experienced hardships but also great successes. I'm so happy that the team has been given new names. This year Laura has become European champion, has become second in Masters, new Olympic points, so it has generally been a successful year, given that we have also received medals at the World Championships, and the District has become bronze, so that the successful year.”, Kelmendi says.

Speaking to Kosovo Preress, Kelmendi says working with young people has become very difficult because social networks are getting their attention. And to get past that, she says she's got a gold tip from Driton Kuka.

The main problem when I started working as a coach that I myself was an extremely hard worker, and I expected other racers to have it, while Tony came by one day saying these aren't you, they don't have your head, they don't have your commitment, your focus, so you have to approach each other otherwise. Finding the shape of how to do it separately gives you the best in training. So actually very difficult, maybe even social networking, very hard to bring that focus to practice, but, despite that, we're still getting the maximum out of athletes, but really not easy.”, Kelmendi says.

But she is convinced that the future of Judo in Kosovo is bright.

And we've actually got new talents, we've got guys and girls who are very talented and that I'm dealing with them, four or five hours a day, and progress now a year from now that we've started dealing with them more seriously, it's very big, so I don't doubt that we're going to have any new names in the future, maybe for Cades, junitors, and why not even seniors<1>, Kelmen said.

In 2023, Kelmendi is challenging all the Judists. It wants medals in each contest to take part.

“Olympic Cycles get as good as possible. Let's get medals in almost every race to go because the competition level is high and it's very surprising if any of the contestants on the team get no medals. No injuries to what's really important, injuries are probably the hardest part of an athlete, keeping out of training, away from racing. Let's not have any injuries and preparations for the Olympics in Paris as well as possible.”, she adds.

In the end, it gives a comment to Distria Krasniqi, the jungle that is breaking new records with European and global peak results. It is for every praise”, says Majlinda Kelmendi.

And we all know that it's been in the 52-pound category for another year, and it's made it first in the world ranking, something extraordinary. The district is very good, very good at feeling and it's working, it's very cold, I know its intentions and it never stopped. After the Olympic Games, two weeks and immediately he's back in training and he knows its target, so it's for every praise”, she says.

In 2013, Majlinda ranked first in the international rankings by the Judo International Federation for the 52kg category, while in Kosovo a year later was decorated with the title “Presidency Medal of Merit”.