Kosovar judoka Akil Gjakova claimed the silver medal at the Paris Grand Slam, marking a major achievement after a series of victories.
Kosovar judoka Akil Gjakova earned a silver medal at the Paris Grand Slam, following an impressive performance in which he secured four victories. According to a statement from the Kosovo Olympic Committee (KOK) dated February 1, 2025, Gjakova faced Uzbekistan’s Shakhram Amadov in the final, but unfortunately, he fell short, missing out on the gold.
KOK congratulated Gjakova, calling the silver medal a tremendous achievement for the athlete, who shone in front of tens of thousands of spectators. “The silver medal is a tremendous success for Akil, who today shined before thousands of spectators. Congratulations, champion!” said the KOK statement.
Gjakova’s journey to the final included a bye in the first round, followed by a victory via Ippon over French judoka Peter Jean in the second round. In the third round, he defeated Japanese judoka Shusuke Uchimara by Ippon, and in the quarterfinals, he beat Azerbaijani Rashid Mammadaliyev with a yuko. In the semifinals, he won against Italy’s Manuel Lombardo with a Wazaari.
Akil’s silver medal follows the bronze medal won earlier by fellow judoka Distria Krasniqi. Krasniqi demonstrated exceptional strength and technique in her victory. She has earned four medals at the Paris Grand Slam over the years, including an Olympic medal in 2024 in Paris.
In addition to Gjakova and Krasniqi, Kosovo’s Nora Gjakova is also competing in Paris, aiming for a bronze medal in the -63 kg category after defeating Spain’s Cristina Cabana Perez.
Kosovo’s Olympic judo team made a strong return to competition in Paris after six months, with Akil Gjakova, Nora Gjakova, and Distria Krasniqi leading the charge. Alongside them, Erza Muminoviq and Dardan Cena are also competing.