In 2009, Kelmendi won the gold medal at the World Junior Championships in Paris.[13] In 2010, she came 5th at the World Junior Championships in Morocco[14] and finished 9th in the 52 kg category at the 2010 World Judo Championships in Tokyo, Japan.[15] She defeated Jaana Sundberg in the first round of the 2012 Olympics but then lost to Christianne Legentil in the second round.[16]