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By:
Arsim Magjera
- November 25, 2021 23:19
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On December 18, the International Judo Federation (IJF) announces the winner of the 2021 Coaching Achievement Award.
Driton Kuka could be the winner. Austrian Yvonne Boenisch, Swedish Robert Eriksson, French Larbi Benboudaoud and Christophe Gagliano or Japanese Kosei Inoue could also be winners. There can be no other winners. These are the five nominations, the French go as a team.
Regardless of whether the coach of Kosovo, Kuka, receives the evaluation of the voters or not, he is a winner. Big winner even. The inclusion in the five best coaches of the moment is a great victory and recognition for Kuka, Kosovar judo and Kosovar sport in general.
"Driton Kuka has changed not only the face of judo, but also the broader sports context in Kosovo. His small team of judokas has brought pride to the new country. Kosovar judokas have continued the tradition of winning medals. In 2021, Kuka's team won two Olympic gold medals. It is an incredible achievement, which is added to the historic victory of Majlinda Kelmendi in 2016", wrote the IJF in the presentation it made to Driton Kuka as one of the candidates for the coach of the year award.
The IJF on Thursday published the nominations for the "IJF Judo Awards 2021". For the first time, the best ones are announced in this way, with the votes of the readers on the official website of the IJF. Vote for Ippon of the Year, Coach of the Year, Rising Star of the Year, Best Judoka, Best Judoka and Moment of 2021.
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Another great evaluation of the European Judo Union for coach Driton Kuka
The Olympic champion, Distria Krasniqi, is a candidate for the best judoka of 2021. Anna Maria Wagner of Germany, Uta Abe of Japan, Jessica Klimkait of Canada and Clarisse Agbegnenou of France are her "rivals".
While the District's nomination is expected, Nora Gjakova, the other Olympic champion from "Tokyo 2020", could easily be on this list.
It is the inclusion of Driton Kuka among the five best that gives importance to Kosovo to this IJF initiative.
Despite being one of the most successful for a decade, Kuka did not get the credit it deserved until after Tokyo. With the two gold medals of Nora's District, the respect for him in the world of judo has increased a lot. He was the only coach invited by the IJF to discuss judo rules for the next Olympic cycle. And now it enters competition with other elite trainers.
Kuka experienced with emotion the nomination that the International Judo Federation made.
"I am constantly experiencing the best days of my life as a coach. A year with so many results and successes now culminates with a nomination where there are five best coaches in the world for this year. This nomination from the International Federation is the culmination of the work. It's an assessment that makes me feel extremely good and I'm enjoying this moment", Kuka told KOĖN, Thursday night.
Kuka adds that the nomination is another reward for the peak level that the Kosovo team has reached in judo, but also as a coach.
"Even the nomination of Distri for the best judoka of the year in the world completes this significant moment", added coach Pejan.
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Kuka completes the collection of coaching awards
The five coaches selected by the IJF currently have the main say in world judo.
"It is a good feeling to compete with the coach of Japan, France and two other coaches. Being part of this group from Kosovo speaks volumes. Honestly, until recently, the successes of Kosovo's judo were seen differently. Little has been seen of the coach's work. Now with three Olympic gold medals, the appreciation is at its maximum. So this nomination gives a seal of approval from the World Judo Federation", said Kuka.
