Maliqi fights for European bronze

Kosovo karateka Betim Maliqi has lost in the semifinals of the European Championships being held in Yerevan, Armenia. Maliqi will fight for a bronze medal on Saturday.

Maliqi, who competes in the up to 75-kilogram category, was narrowly defeated, 1:0, in the semifinals by Montenegrin karateka Nemanja Mikuliq. 

Maliqi defeated Ukrainian karateka Andrii Zaplitnyi in the fourth round. Earlier, he advanced past Croatia’s Ivan Martinac and Romania’s Gabriel Aurelian Iodache.

Jakup Ajdari also made a good start to the European Championships. In his first bout, he defeated last year’s European champion, Greece’s Konstantinos Mastrogiannis. In his second bout, he eliminated Czech Jachym Tinavsky, and he also won his third bout, defeating Armenian karateka Gor Nersisyan. But the bout was repeated. The Armenian won the rematch, and thus the Kosovan lost the chance to qualify for the semifinals.

Elmedina Istogu successfully got through the first round in the up to 61 kg category. She defeated Slovakia’s Anna Vaczy 4:2. But she lost her second bout 11:5 to Romania’s Mihaela Miruna Malauta. 

Fortesa Orana and Vlera Qerimi were eliminated in their first bouts. Orana, in the over-68-kilogram category, lost 7:2 to Belgium’s Ophelie Mulolo. 

Qerimi (61 kg) was defeated 2:1 by North Macedonian karateka Angela Mojsovska.
Alma Loki was eliminated in the first round of kata. She was knocked out by Ukrainian Halyna Zaporozhchenko.

On the second day of the European Championships, Redona Gashi (50 kg), Anila Foniqi (55 kg), Islam Selmani (60 kg) and Shpresim Shabani (67 kg) will compete.

Kosovo will also compete in the team events.