Kosovo celebrates two golden girls at The Hague Grand Prix

Kosovo celebrates two golden girls at The Hague Grand Prix
By Euronews
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After a six year absence, Judo returns to the Netherlands as The Hague hosts the latest Grand Prix on the IJF World Tour.

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After a six year absence, Judo returns to the Netherlands as The Hague hosts the latest Grand Prix on the IJF World Tour.

Our woman of the day is 17 year old Daria Bilodid of the Ukraine, who took on world number two Otgontsetseg Galbadrakh in the u48 kg final.

The teenager stunned the Kazak in Golden Score, scoring Waza-Ari with a clever piece of footwork to take her first ever Grand Prix gold medal.

Kosovo coach Driton is proud to hear his national anthem for the gold of Distria Krasniqi #JudoTheHague2017pic.twitter.com/IYosRm5Fe0

— JudoInside.com (@JudoInside) November 17, 2017

Bilodid definitely has a bright future but for now she can enjoy the sweet taste of success.

She was presented her gold medal by Mr Bruno Bruins Minister for Medical Care and Sport of the Netherlands.

‘‘I lost here at the World Senior Championships and I was so disappointed after this competition, said Bilodid.

“After that we had a special plan with my coaches and it was very hard to prepare. I’m happy that I did it. I won but I know that in the future it will be difficult”.

KOSOVO CELEBRATES TWO GOLDEN GIRLS AT THE HAGUE GRAND PRIX.

What a performance of the team of Driton Kuka at the first day of the Grand Prix in The Hague.

Distria Krasniqi & Nora Gjakova, the golden girls #JudoTheHague2017pic.twitter.com/5u4ANjQ8K7

— IMAGE of KOSOVO (@imageofkosovo) November 17, 2017

Turkeys Bekir Ozlu overcame Great Britain’s Ashley Mckenzie to become our man of the day.

A beautiful change of direction in the under 60kg final saw him score a perfect Ippon, taking his opponent backwards and landing the Brit flat on his back to take gold.

He received his medal from Mr Rudmer Heerema, member of parliament responsible for Sports and Education in the Netherlands.

Mongolia took gold at under 66kg after Bakshu Yondonperenlei executed a clever turnover on his Russian opponent and held on for the Ippon.

Kosovo took the final two golds on offer, Nora Gjakova at u57kg and Distria Krasniqi at u52kg thrilling the knowledgeable Dutch crowd.

“Holland has an heritage in judo, said Dennis Van Der Geest.

“We had a Grand Prix for a lot of years where I competed it and I won it a few times. I have really good memories, not only by winning but also the crowd here in Holland.

They love judo. I think it’s very important that (the grand prix) is back in Holland again.

Holland’s only chance of a medal on day one, however, was ended by our move of the day as Mongolia’s Amartuvshin Dashdavaa brilliantly countered young dutchman Bas koffijberg to take the u60kg bronze medal.

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