Distria Krasniqi Secures Gold at Paris Grand Slam, Kosovo Continues Judo Success
Distria Krasniqi shone brightly in the French capital on Saturday, winning the gold medal at the Paris Grand Slam – arguably the most prestigious judo competition of the year. The victory marks Krasniqi’s fourth gold medal in Paris.
Krasniqi’s Dominant Performance in the -52kg Category
Krasniqi was unstoppable in the -52kg class. She defeated Spain’s Ariane Toro Soler in the final before approximately 15,000 spectators in the renowned Bercy Arena. Krasniqi now holds a 5-1 record against Soler. The match concluded swiftly, with Krasniqi securing an ippon in just 27 seconds.
A History of Success in Paris
This gold medal is Krasniqi’s fourth in Paris, having likewise won in 2020, 2023, and 2024. She also boasts two silver and three bronze medals from the competition, bringing her total medal count in Paris to ten. She previously won Olympic silver in the French capital.
Road to the Final: A Challenging Path
As the number one seed in her category, Krasniqi received a first-round bye. She then convincingly defeated France’s Alicia Marques in the second round. The quarter-final against Brazil’s Larissa Pimenta proved to be a tough contest, ultimately resolved by a waza-ari in golden score. In the semi-final, Krasniqi overcame France’s Amandine Buchard, considered a major contender in the tournament, securing a yuko early and controlling the remainder of the match.
Other Kosovan Judoka Compete
Five other Kosovan judoka participated in the Paris Grand Slam on Saturday. Fationa Kasapi achieved the best result among them, finishing seventh in the under 52 kilogram weight class.
Kasapi’s Promising Debut
Making her debut at the Paris Grand Slam, Fationa Kasapi defeated France’s Blandine Pont in the first round and Hungary’s Roza Gyertyas in the second. She was then defeated by Germany’s experienced Mascha Ballhaus in the quarter-final and South Korea’s Jang Suyun in the repechage.
Controversies and Challenges for Other Kosovan Athletes
Akil Gjakova won his first-round match in the 73kg class, defeating Otari Kvantidze of Portugal. He then lost to Manuel Lombardo of Italy after receiving a third penalty. Kosovo’s judo coach, Driton Kuka, strongly protested the second and third penalties against Akil, deeming them unjust. Erza Muminović was stopped in the second round of the under 48kg weight class after successfully completing the first. Flaka Loxha lost her opening match in the under 57kg weight class. In the under 63kg weight class, Laura Fazliu received a third penalty alongside her opponent, Gili Sharir of Israel, resulting in both judoka being disqualified – a rare occurrence in judo.
Krasniqi’s Head-to-Head Record
Distria now has five wins and one loss against Ariane Toro Soler.
Tournament Overview
The Paris Grand Slam featured four different tatami mats for the first time. The tournament attracted 488 judoka from 78 countries, marking the first event of the Judo World Tour for the year.
FAQ
How many gold medals has Distria Krasniqi won at the Paris Grand Slam?
Distria Krasniqi has won four gold medals at the Paris Grand Slam.
What is Distria Krasniqi’s record against Ariane Toro Soler?
Distria Krasniqi has five wins and one loss against Ariane Toro Soler.
How many Kosovan judoka participated in the Paris Grand Slam?
Six Kosovan judoka participated in the Paris Grand Slam.
What was the highest placement achieved by a Kosovan judoka other than Distria Krasniqi?
Fationa Kasapi finished seventh in the under 52 kilogram weight class.
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