Kosovar judoka Distria Krasniqi, a two-time Olympic medalist, lit up the judo scene once again on Friday at the Zagreb Grand Prix, where she claimed gold in the under-52 kg category – a powerful comeback after a long absence from competition.
The victory in Zagreb holds special significance for Krasniqi. Speaking to the International Judo Federation’s official page, she said:
“I have great memories from Zagreb. This is where I became European champion. I like it here. It’s nearby, so it’s always good,” highlighting her special connection with the city.
In the final, Krasniqi faced Hungary’s Reka Pupp, a well-known rival. After 2 minutes and 26 seconds, Krasniqi executed a beautiful move for Ippon, defeating Pupp for the tenth time in eleven encounters.
“I thank Reka Pupp for the fight. We have faced each other many times. Each match is always tough. This last one was the same. I respect her a lot; she’s a judoka with a great personality,” Krasniqi said after the final.
This event marked her first competition since June 13, when she finished as World runner-up in Hungary. For an athlete accustomed to a busy competition schedule, a six-month break was unusual.
Krasniqi admitted:
“I’m very happy. I haven’t competed for a long time – six months is unusual, only after the Olympics. So this was a good day for me. I’ve trained a lot, and this success is the result of hard work after the World Championship. I’m happy to be in good form.”
At 29 years old, Krasniqi now holds eight Grand Prix gold medals. This year, she won bronze at the Paris Grand Slam, silver at the Austrian Grand Prix, and gold at the European Championship, with her triumph in Zagreb further strengthening her status in the 52 kg category.
Krasniqi emphasized that success is not accidental, but the result of the dedication of her entire team, who work tirelessly on every detail – a philosophy that keeps Kosovar judo spectacular.
In Zagreb, Flaka Loxha finished fifth, Dardan Cena was eliminated in his second match on Saturday, and on Sunday Anes Veseli and Shpati Zekaj are set to compete.
