Kosovo’s Distria Krasniqi triumphs in Podgorica, winning her third European judo title in the 52 kg class and reinforcing her status as an international judo star.

Kosovar judoka Distria Krasniqi has once again made history, clinching the gold medal in the women’s 52 kg category at the European Judo Championships in Podgorica, Montenegro. With this victory, Krasniqi adds another prestigious title to her already impressive résumé as reigning Olympic champion.

According to the European Judo Union, Krasniqi’s path to the top was marked by a series of dominant performances. After receiving a bye in the first round, she quickly dispatched Serbian competitor Nikolić in the round of 16, needing just 25 seconds to secure her victory. In the quarterfinals, Krasniqi defeated Naomi van Krevel of the Netherlands, then advanced past a strong Spanish opponent in the semifinals.

The final brought together two of the sport’s elite: Krasniqi and Italy’s Odette Giuffrida, who entered the tournament as the reigning world champion. In a tightly contested bout, Krasniqi prevailed, securing her third European title and reinforcing her reputation as one of the world’s best.

After the final, Krasniqi shared her excitement, telling the Kosovo National Olympic Committee:

“It’s an incredible feeling to stand on top of Europe once again. Each victory is the result of hard work and support from my team and my country.”

Krasniqi’s triumph has been widely celebrated in Kosovo, which has become a powerhouse in international judo in recent years. The European Judo Union highlighted her performance as “a display of technique, determination, and world-class athleticism,” underscoring the significance of her achievement not only for herself but for women’s sport across the region.

With this latest gold, Krasniqi cements her status among judo’s elite, continuing a remarkable legacy for herself and for Kosovo’s thriving judo program.

Image:
Olympic.uz, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons