The benefit of a first round bye saw Krasniqi into the quarter final where she faced the fast improving 21-year old Ariel BEZALEL (ISR). But it was an unhappy second meeting for Bezalel who lost to Krasniqi by ippon having lost to her earlier in the year at the the European Open in Sofia. In the semi final it was the turn of Merve TAS (TUR) to attempt to halt Krasniqi. The pair had met once previously (at the European Open in Obewart in 2015) where Krasniqi had defeated the Turkish athlete. But even allowing for home advantage Krasniqi demolished her opponent within ten seconds with a huge o soto gari for ippon.
Her place in the final secured, Krasniqi prepared to face number one seed Gili COHEN (ISR). This was a third meeting for the pair, Krasniqi had won both their previous encounters. The final began with a flurry of grips and posturing, none of which really got either competitor anywhere. It was Krasniqi who got on the board first scoring waza ari with a right sided uchi mata. This was followed up shortly after by Krasniqi with a well timed hiza guruma that brought the Kosovar a second waza ari. There being no other scores in the contest, it was Krasniqi who took the gold medal. Next up for Krasniqi to concentrate on will be the Senior European Championships to be held in Warsaw in two weeks’ time. It is perfectly possible that Krasniqi’s biggest threat will be team mate Majlinda KELMENDI (KOS).
The opening day of the Antalya Grand Prix saw Kosovo take two gold medals, first with Distria KRASNIQI (KOS) in the -52kg category and then with Nora GJAKOVA (KOS) in the -57kg category. It was a second grand prix gold medal for 21-year old Krasniqi who obviously enjoys Turkey having won her first grand prix in Samsun in 2015. Krasniqi began the day as number two seed, and her win here will give her a place in the top ten on the IJF World Ranking List. 
The benefit of a first round bye saw Krasniqi into the quarter final where she faced the fast improving 21-year old Ariel BEZALEL (ISR). But it was an unhappy second meeting for Bezalel who lost to Krasniqi by ippon having lost to her earlier in the year at the the European Open in Sofia. In the semi final it was the turn of Merve TAS (TUR) to attempt to halt Krasniqi. The pair had met once previously (at the European Open in Obewart in 2015) where Krasniqi had defeated the Turkish athlete. But even allowing for home advantage Krasniqi demolished her opponent within ten seconds with a huge o soto gari for ippon.
Her place in the final secured, Krasniqi prepared to face number one seed Gili COHEN (ISR). This was a third meeting for the pair, Krasniqi had won both their previous encounters. The final began with a flurry of grips and posturing, none of which really got either competitor anywhere. It was Krasniqi who got on the board first scoring waza ari with a right sided uchi mata. This was followed up shortly after by Krasniqi with a well timed hiza guruma that brought the Kosovar a second waza ari. There being no other scores in the contest, it was Krasniqi who took the gold medal. Next up for Krasniqi to concentrate on will be the Senior European Championships to be held in Warsaw in two weeks’ time. It is perfectly possible that Krasniqi’s biggest threat will be team mate Majlinda KELMENDI (KOS).
