The 2024 World Judo Championships opened on Sunday in Baku, Azerbaijan, bringing 622 judoka from 93 countries together for the sport’s most important annual tournament. Opening-day competition featured the men’s 60-kilogram and women’s 48-kilogram categories.
As the tournament progresses through its preliminary rounds, Kosovo’s national team has learned its opening opponents across multiple weight classes. Driton Kuka’s squad enters the competition under strict qualification standards that limit entry to only the top 100 athletes in each division.
Distria Krasniqi Withdraws Due to Injury Ahead of 52kg Competition
World number one Distria Krasniqi will not compete in the 52-kilogram category due to an ongoing injury and is currently undergoing rehabilitation. Krasniqi was originally scheduled to compete in the division as the top seed.
Her absence shifts the top seeding in the 52kg class to Italy’s Odette Giuffrida, who currently holds the number two spot in the international rankings. Competition in the 52kg and 66kg weight classes is scheduled for Monday.
Akil Gjakova Faces Defending Olympic Champion Hidayat Heydarov
In the highly competitive 73-kilogram division—widely considered the strongest category in judo—Kosovo’s Akil Gjakova has been drawn against local favorite and judo legend Hidayat Heydarov of Azerbaijan. Both athletes enter the tournament in the first round.
Heydarov, 29, holds the reigning Olympic title and captured the world championship gold medal in 2024. In addition to his world and Olympic honors, the Azerbaijani competitor has secured four European titles and enters the Baku tournament aiming for gold in front of home supporters. Gjakova joins a 50-man field in the 73kg category, with their opening encounter setting up an immediate test against the division’s standard-bearer.
In the same weight class, Dardan Cena opens against Ireland’s Joshua Green. A victory for Cena would pit him against another judo legend in the second round: Georgian Lasha Shavdatuashvili.
Laura Fazliu Returns in the 63kg Division as a Medal Contender
Kosovo will feature more male than female competitors at the World Championships for the first time. Despite this demographic shift, the women’s team retains proven medal potential.
Laura Fazliu competes in the 63-kilogram category on Wednesday, entering the 48-woman field unseeded but with a first-round bye. The official website of the European Judo Union highlighted her entry, noting that “Laura Fazliu returns, after winning the bronze medal at the World Championships last year.” Fazliu has secured the bronze medal at the world championships in each of the past two years.
Shpati Zekaj Draws Moldovan Opponent in 100kg Class
Action concludes for Kosovo’s squad on Friday when Shpati Zekaj takes to the tatami in the 100-kilogram division. Zekaj opens his tournament against Moldova’s Vadim Ghimbovschi.
The 100kg bracket features 56 competitors vying for the world title under the guidance of Driton Kuka, whose athletes have consistently targeted podium finishes at international championships.
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