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Majlinda Kelmendi and Teddy Riner awarded as best athletes

Majlinda Kelmendi and Teddy Riner awarded as best athletes

27 Aug 2017 23:05
by Mark Pickering - IJF
IJF Media Team / International Judo Federation

At the IJF Gala on Sunday evening Majlinda Kelmendi of Kosovo was awarded as The Best Female Judoka Kelmendi. Since 2012 she won three European title, two world titles and the Olympic title. The honour for men was for Teddy Riner who will arrive later in Budapest as he fights on Saturday.

Kelmendi said: “Good evening, it is a great honour to be here,” said the double world champion who competes in Budapest on Tuesday. “First of all I want to congratulate the IJF President Mr. Marius Vizer for your re-election, thank you sir and congratulations. Thank you for working so hard and making our sport improve every day.

“Thank you for your support for me, for Kosovo and Kosovo Judo, you are the reason Kosovo received recognition from the IOC. Thanks to you I was able to represent my country at the Olympics last year and thanks to you we have a gold medal. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

“I would like to thank the person who raised me, educated me and made me a champion, my coach Driton Toni Kuka and his brothers who are patriots and have done so much for our country. Thank you so much.

“I have won the Europeans, Worlds and the Olympics but this award is my Mount Everest, I can’t wish for more. All I can say is god bless judo.”

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