Distria Krasniqi opens the prom for Kosovo

The first final of the Grand Prix in Tashkent saw the first Kosovo athlete of the day to enter the final, Distria Krasniqi, against the former Olympic bronze medallist, Csernoviczki Eva (HUN). After one minute three shidos were already awarded, two for Csernoviczki, one for Krasniqi. This is the time the pupil of Driton Kuka, decided to score a first waza-ari with a o-uchi-gari.

Totally dominating her opponent, Krasniqi didn't seem in danger at all and kept putting pressure on her opponent, until the Hungarian was penalized with a third shido offering the first gold medal of the day to Kosovo.

The first bronze medal contest opposed Katharina Menz (GER) and Milica Nikolic (SRB). After less than thirty seconds Nikolic threw Menz with a shoulder technique for waza-ari, immediately followed with an immobilisation for ippon. In the second bronze medal contest the right-handed Joana Diogo (POR) was opposed to the left-handed Amber Gersjes (NED). Half way to the end, the latter was penalized with a first shido for a false gripping but a few seconds later it was Diogo to be penalized for passivity, just before a second penalty was awarded to both athletes for avoiding gripping. It was time for the golden score and only after a few seconds, Diogo launched a ippon-ko-uchi-gari for a small waza-ari, but enough to win her first bronze medal in a Grand Prix.