Majlinda presented unforgotten excitement in London while in Rio she will be leading the Olympic team of Kosovo

Upon her presentation at the Olympic Games “London 2012”, Majlinda Kelmendi presented to all people an excitement that was never experienced before in such competition and no doubt she is our proud, emblem of Kosovo sport and I am convinced that she will be the leader of the Olympic team of the Republic of Kosovo at the Olympic Games “Rio 2016”.

So said among others, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports in a press conference held at the International Airport of Prishtina  “Adem Jashari”, together with the judoka Kelmendi, her coach Driton Kuka, and the President of Kosovo Judo Federation, Agron Kuka, who returned today from London. Just as he accompanied Majlinda to the airport, minister Krasniqi welcomed her and her team at the IAP “Adem Jashari” as well.
Minister further added that the participation of Majlinda itself at the Olympics, an achievement made after a hard work and based on her scores but not as invited, is an outstanding success for her and sport in Kosovo. He stated that on this occasion it is also proved the great commitment of all Institutions of Kosovo, with the aim of supporting Majlinda and sport in general. “ She provided a performance, emotions that were never experienced before and no doubt she was and she  still remains the proud of Kosovo sport and an inspiration alive for thousands athletes of Kosovo, as her success will inspire them in continuity and will have even more impact on realising their dreams“, said minister.

He congratulated the coach Kuka and the heads of Federation for their tireless work so far, while promising them that the institutional support provided to them will increase even more. Minister expressed his thanks for the Olympic Committee of Kosovo, Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports of the Republic of Albania, Albanian Olympic Committee for their assistance and cooperation provided.

In his speech, minister added that Kosovo will have Majlinda as a leader of its team in “Rio”, and together with her there will be many other young athletes, in judo, box, wrestling and other sports as well, who will be the proud of Kosovo. The story of Majlinda, said minister Krasniqi has been an irreplaceable lobbying to breaking the unfair isolation towards Kosovo in sport. “I have stated that the best story, the real history of Kosovo sport is personified through Majlinda Kelmendi, who was the emblem of sport, and our battle for the internationalisation of sport.

In recent days, the most important media of the world such as BBC, The Guardian, Aljazeera, and many others, once again have continued to treat the issue of isolation of Kosovo athletes”, said minister.

He added that as the technical criteria for the application of Olympic Committee of Kosovo to be a member of the International Olympic Committee is already fulfilled; we will safely proceed and be convinced to receive a positive answer. “Upon the recognition of Kosovo as a state by 100 countries, we will apply to be a member of the International Olympic Committee. I am convinced that the number of recognitions will increase in the following next months and I strongly believe that we will be prepared and receive a deserved answer, respectively, a positive answer”.

For her side, the judoka Majlinda Kelmendi expressed her thanks for all people, the heads of the State of Kosovo, the President, the Prime Minister and Minister Krasniqi, who stayed next to her. She said that the result in London was not what her expectations were and because of the great will to win medals, she made mistakes that she paid with a loss. “I know that the result was not what our expectations were. Probably it simply was not a lucky day. It never happened to lose a confrontation by a competitor that has much less level than me. Probably it simply was not my day, probably it was unsatisfied concentration, and/or my presence at the Olympic Games itself, as it is psychologically stressful”, she said, while promising that in the following next European and World competitions she will work hard, and by learning the lesson from the experience in London she will aim to be really prepared for the following next Games, “Rio 2016”. Unfortunately it happened at the Olympic Games, but nevertheless it will be an experience.

That is sport and in sport everything is possible. Meanwhile, there will be other competitions and I believe that such mistakes will not be repeated”.

Her coach, Driton Kuka, as well expressed that for him the result was surprising, and this happened due to mistakes and the great desire to win.

He said that Majlinda achieved an outstanding success, by ensuring the Olympic norm and by taking part at the Olympic Games. Kuka added that he will start working with Majlinda and other judokas in order to prepare a really strong team for “Rio 2012”. The coach Kuka expressed his thanks to minister who stayed next to them in every single step, during the last two years. “Majlinda incurred a loss due to a mistake. We have achieved the qualification and our second goal was Majlinda to debut by winning. This should be assessed as the first victory of Kosovo, while our goal for medals I believe will be achieved in Rio. I believe that we will have further support like we really had in the last two years, as Majlinda Kelmendi was an emblem of Kosovo and she has proved to be the best ambassador of Kosovo.

I believe and I asked minister Krasniqi to further support us as he really fostered all our commitment for sport”, he said. On the other hand, the head of Judo Federation of Kosovo, Agron Kuka, said he believes that our commitment and engagement for sport will further increase, in order to increasingly have athletes who will be representing the true image of Kosovo to the world.