On this day in 2021, at the annual International Judo Federation (IJF) awards, Kosova’s Dritan Kuka has won the prestigious ‘coaching achievement award.’ Broadcasted on the IJF’s YouTube Channel, and beating out five other coaches: Yvonne Boenisch (Austria), Kosei Inoue (Japan), Christophe Gagliano and Larbi Benboudaoud (France), and Robert Eriksson (Sweden), Kuka, has much to celebrate. This award comes after Kuka’s impressive coaching skills were displayed during the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, where Kosovar Judoka’s Distria Krasniqi U48kg and Nora Gjakova U57kg, both won gold medals! This, of course, comes after his previous gold medal win with Kosova’s first Olympic gold medal winner, Majlinda Kelmendi, at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Honoured to be receiving the award, Duka expertly asserts what his team’s impressive run has meant: “… two gold medals was a great achievement and as a small country Kosov[a] we are showing to the world that a small judo community can make a good result. Not only for our athletes, our people in Kosov[a], for my team and country but also for the judo family…”

Thus, as a small nation, Duka’s coaching achievements have helped carve Kosova out as an exemplary member of the Judo family, while simultaneously allowing Kosova to be represented on the world stage by exemplary female athletes. Consequently, Duka’s incredible achievement with Kosova’s Judo team, paves the way for children all over Kosova to be introduced to, and to fall in love with a new sport. It is important to note, that not only Duka’s, but all of Kosova’s Olympic gold medals have come from female athletes. Athletes, who have become role models and a source of pride for everyone in Kosova, as the country continues to carve out its niche dominance in this sport.