Nora, last year’s European champion and Mediterranean Games gold medallist in the women’s under-57 kilograms category, won the Female Athlete of the Year prize for 2018.

"It is a great honour for me to become amongst the best athletes of Kosovo," she said.

Brother Akil, who won the men’s under-73kg title at the 2018 International Judo Federation Grand Slam in Paris and was also crowned under-23 European champion and Mediterranean Games gold medallist, was named the Male Athlete of the Year.

He thanked the OCK for the prize, his family, his coach Driton Kuka and especially the head of the Kosovo Judo Federation, Agron Kuka.

Kuka won for the Coach of the Year prize for the third time.

It was given to him by his student Majlinda Kelmendi, an Olympic and world gold medallist. 

"I am privileged to have received the award from my student Majlinda Kelmendi," Kuka said.

"In 2018, except the girls, Akil Gjakova came on the scene.

"He won the Grand Slam of Paris, which is one of the biggest competitions after the World Championship."

Another judoka, Shpat Zeka, was recognised as "The Greatest Olympic Hope" after becoming a European junior silver medallist in the men’s under-100kg category.

The equivalent women’s accolade went to Erza Muminovic, the 44kg bronze medallist from the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games and European cadet champion.

The national football team was declared as the best side after going unbeaten in 2018.

The award was received by the coach Bernard Challandes.

"I am honoured to be here," he said.

"I believe we deserved this award not just because of the results, but because we are here to show Olympic values as part of the Olympic Movement."

The Special Prize was awarded to the women’s national karate team, who ranked seventh in the world and second in the Balkans.

In his speech, OCK President Besim Hasani cited the great promotion that sport and sportspeople are giving to Kosovo in the international arena.

"The reason for the gathering are the athletes who only last year made the Kosovo flag rise high for more than 50 times in many countries around the world, even in countries which for political reasons do not recognise the country of Kosovo," he said.

"But it is their citizens who respectfully stand in front of the Kosovo flag."

Kosovo's Minister for Culture, Youth and Sport Kujtim Gashi said he considered 2018 to be the most successful year of all for Kosovan sport.

All winners were awarded between €500 (£430/$567) and €2,000 (£1,700/$2,200).