Laura Fazliu’s setback in Tbilisi becomes fuel for the next big targets

Some tournament days turn in an instant. That was the story for Kosovo’s Laura Fazliu at the European Senior Championships Tbilisi 2026, where the -63 kg contender was knocked out in her opening contest after an early score put her on the back foot.

For an athlete with Olympic, World and European medals, the exit was a painful one. Fazliu had arrived as one of the names to watch, but in judo, even the best plans can collapse in the opening seconds when momentum slips away.

She did not hide her disappointment afterward. Fazliu said she had prepared a lot for the event, yet felt it simply was not her day. She also pointed to the difficulty of chasing the fight after conceding so early, a reminder of how unforgiving elite judo can be.

In top-level judo, one early moment can change everything.

What stands out is how quickly she turned the loss into a lesson. Fazliu said she usually needs a few days to process a poor performance, but she also tries to learn from every defeat and fix the mistakes that matter most.

Her focus is already on the bigger picture. She described the World Championships and the Olympic Games as the key goals, with other events serving as tests on that road. The message is clear: this setback hurt, but it did not change the direction.

One of the biggest takeaways from Tbilisi was mental rather than technical. Fazliu felt pressure from herself and admitted it affected her focus in the first seconds of the first fight. Her conclusion was simple but important: enjoy the moment more and trust the preparation.

She is not walking that path alone. Fellow Kosovan star Distria Krasniqi, an Olympic and European champion, remains a major presence in her daily life as teammate, roommate and friend. Their bond is built on shared training, mutual support and constant learning.

Krasniqi said they push each other and even help each other understand opponents. Fazliu, meanwhile, said she is learning from Krasniqi how to work more on her sasai technique. After a rough day in Tbilisi, that partnership may be one of her strongest advantages.

Fazliu’s response was clear: learn fast, stay calm, move forward.

Source: EJU_News