On 15 September, top coach Driton ‘Toni’ KUKA (KOS) celebrates his 53rd birthday with his brothers Agron and Syle in Istria. The triumvirate retreats together for a week. With some good news: Tokyo Olympic champion Nora GJAKOVA (-57), 32, will continue her career until Los Angeles 2028. It would be her fourth Summer Games.
The successful Kosovan judo team is only represented at the European Junior Championships in Tallinn (EST) with a small delegation. Muhamedin VESELI (-66) lost prematurely on the first day of competition, while Dion Sharapolli (-73) will be in action on Friday. “Unfortunately, we have to cope with three retirements,” said Kosova Judo Federation president Agron Kuka. Son Blin (-90) is out with a shoulder injury, as is semi-lightweight Jon Veseli (-66). Super-lightweight Sidorela Doday (-48) comes back from a knee injury and also had to cancel her participation in Tallinn.
Four of the five Paris Games starters are already back in training. “Toni had given them off until the beginning of September. But after two weeks at the latest, they were back in the dojo or in the gym, including Tokyo Olympic champion and Paris silver medallist Distria KRASNIQI,” says Agron. Only niece Loriana, 27, ended her career in August for personal reasons.
In Istria, at Toni’s birthday party on 15 September, the three Kuka brothers will work on the rough plan for Los Angeles 2028. “We’re on holiday, but we can’t do it without judo. That wouldn’t be a holiday to our taste.”
Meanwhile, the decision on when the next top event will take place in Kosovo after the European Open Championships in Pristina in 2023 has been postponed. “There won’t be European Championships in Kosovo before 2027,” clarifies Agron Kuka. Background: The new parliament will be elected in February. ‘We won’t be able to start concrete negotiations with the new government members before spring 2025.’
In terms of sport, Distria Krasniqi will continue at the Grand Slam tournament in Abu Dhabi (UAE/11 – 13 October). It remains to be seen when Nora Gjakova will return to competitive action.
Author: EJU Media