Kosovan boxer Donjeta Sadiku has secured Kosovo’s first medal at the Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games after convincingly defeating Turkish boxer Esmanur Lok.

Following Sadiku’s victory, her coach, Marjola Sallauka, praised the Kosovan boxer’s performance, saying that her goal remains to win the gold medal. Sallauka emphasized that the Mediterranean Games are a good opportunity to assess Sadiku’s level ahead of the European Championships, which will take place in 10 days.

“Her goal is the gold medal. These Mediterranean Games came at a very good time because in 10 days we also have the European Championships, so this is a very good challenge to see where her performance stands, what we need to improve, and what her strengths and weaknesses are ahead of the European Championships,” Sallauka said.

Latif Demolli, secretary of the Kosovo Boxing Federation, was also pleased with Sadiku’s performance. He said that no one in the Kosovan team had any doubts about Donjeta’s potential and that her medal was expected.

The president of the Kosovo Olympic Committee, Ismet Krasniqi, also highly praised the Kosovan boxer’s performance, saying that Sadiku represented Kosovo in the best possible way and fought like a lioness.

“It was truly a very good fight by Donjeta. She represented us in the best possible way, made us proud and gave us emotions, as you saw — she fought like a true lioness. Donjeta also told us in Kosovo that her performance would be a surprise and that she had worked hard during her preparations, and today she proved it by securing a convincing victory over her opponent from Türkiye.”

Sadiku, however, is not satisfied with just a bronze medal. She has made it clear that she came to Taranto aiming for the gold medal and to hear Kosovo’s national anthem played at the end.

The Kosovan boxer will have her next bout on August 27 against Greece’s Sofia Legaki, as she looks to continue her journey towards the gold medal.