Kuka: Kosovo with halved teams, yes with medals

Kosovo has successfully completed the 2025 European Judo Championship, held in Podgorica, Montenegro, according to coach Driton Kuka.

“With teams halved due to injuries, from Podgorica we are returning with a gold, a seventh place and a good display of the entire team of four contestants. Distria shone, Achilles fought as a colossus, Dardan surprised us for good, and Laurine gained experience. Bravo for all of the” has written Kuka.

He has written for each contestor, starting in Distria Krasniqi.

On the first day of the races Wednesday, Distria Krasniqi shone at the Tatam, triumphing in the category of up to 52kg. She was proclaimed European champion and secured the gold medal for Kosovo.

On the same day, the new Juddyre Gashi participated in the competition, which, according to coach Kuka, is gathering experience for future challenges.

On the second day Thursday, Akil Gjakova and Dardan Cena were included in the race in the category of up to 73 kg. The bloodbath reached the quarterfinals, where after a 16 - minute epic war, Lasha Shavdatwashvili was defeated by the legend of Judo. Because of extreme fatigue, I neither Mudblooded in the cleanup nor Shavdatwashville in the semifinals. Achilles finished European in seventh place.

Meanwhile, Dardan Cena made a positive presentation, winning two duels against opponents from Israel and Ukraine, but stopped by a Russian jungle in the following rounds.