Donjeta wins gold with “two punches” – defeats the Russian representing Serbia

Donjeta Sadiku has won the gold medal at the Mediterranean Games.

In the final of the up to 60-kilogram category, the Kosovar boxer defeated Serbia’s competitor, Kristina Kuluhova. 

The bout ended in the second round, when Kuluhova withdrew because of an injury to her eyebrow. The judges counted the points up to the moment the bout was stopped, and Donjeta won 4:0. Four of the judges scored the Kosovar boxer as the winner in both rounds. Meanwhile, one judge scored the fight as even up to the moment it was stopped. 

For Kosovo, this is the first medal at the “Taranto 2026” Mediterranean Games. And it is gold. The most valuable possible.

The bout with Kuluhova was worth more than a medal, because of the country she represents. Kuluhova is from Russia, but represents Serbia, which continues to oppose Kosovar athletes competing in international events. Serbian athletes rarely agree to face athletes from Kosovo. There were several matchups at the Mediterranean Games in Taranto. 

In the ring, Donjeta showed much more, landed accurate punches and was convincingly in the lead up to the moment the bout was stopped.

The Kosovar boxer has recorded three wins at the Mediterranean Games.

In the quarterfinal of the up to 60-kilogram category, she won 4:1 against Turkey’s Esmanur Lok. In the semifinal on Wednesday, she won convincingly, 5:0 against Greece’s Sofia Legaki. And she was just as convincing in Thursday’s final.
Serbia’s boxer, Kuluhova, did not come out to accept the Mediterranean silver medal. Three boxers were on the podium, Donjeta and the bronze medal winners, but not Kuluhova.

Donjeta appeared very proud during the playing of Kosovo’s anthem. She has won medals at the biggest boxing events, but the medal in Taranto will be one of the most special of her career.