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Sport in Albania

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Sport in Albania revolves mostly around team sports, such as football, basketball, volleyball and handball. Other sports includes boxing, weightlifting, tennis, swimming, judo, karate, athletics, table tennis, and chess. Football in particular has seen a rapid transformation, with the Albanian national football team making its debut at the 1964 UEFA European Football Championship, reaching their the Round of Sixteen. The national football team also qualified for the 2016 UEFA European Football Championship. Many Albanian athletes have also achieved significant success and have won European and Mediterranean titles in numerous sports during the years, such as wrestling, football, athletics and weightlifting. Albanian athletes have won a total 45 medals for Albania in 8 different Mediterranean sports. Albania has had some success in others sport such as Volleyball and Basketball winning both times Gold with the females at the 1987 Mediterranean Games held in Syria.

Football

Further information: Football in Albania

Football is the most popular sport in Albania.[citation needed] It arrived in Albania at the beginning of the 20th century.[citation needed] Football is played by children at school and by grown-ups on the many indoor and outdoor fields located throughout the country. The sport is governed by the Football Association of Albania (Federata Shqiptare e Futbollit).

The first recorded match was between students at a Christian mission in Shkodër. Other towns and cities followed suit and on 6 June 1930 the Football Association of Albania was established. The association became a member of football's governing body FIFA in 1932, and joined the European governing body UEFA in 1954 as a founding member.

Albania was the winner of the 1946 Balkan Cup and the 2000 Malta International Tournament. At the UEFA Euro 1964 in Spain, Albania made its first-ever appearance at a major men's football tournament. Albania's highest FIFA World Ranking for men was 22nd, in August 2015. Albania qualified for the UEFA Euro 2016 in France. Playing in the Groupstage in Group A against France, Switzerland and Romania.[1]

The youth teams of albania got an rich history in Football as the Albania national under-21 football team won twice the Balkan Youth Championship in 1978 and 1981 and they also qualify once at the 1984 UEFA European Under-21 Championship , losing in the Quarterfinals against Italy.[2]

1946: Balkan Cup

Main article: 1946 Balkan Cup

The early years saw a notably successful Balkan Cup in the 1946 campaign. Albania won the cup after overcoming Yugoslavia on level points but with a better goal difference.[3]

1964: Among the best 16 teams of the continent

Main article: 1964 European Nations' Cup qualifying

In 1964, Albania competed in a Euro Cup competition and it was the only time Albania was among the best 16 teams of the continent, due to Greece forfeiting their matches and Albania being given a walkover.[4] At the end of the tournament Albania was considered to rank 9th in Europe.[5][6][7]

2014–2016: Success at the European Championship

Main articles: UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying Group I and UEFA Euro 2016 Group A

Albania qualified for UEFA Euro 2016,[8] its first appearance at a major men's football tournament after 50 years.[9][10] This earned the team the Honor of Nation Order from Albania's President Bujar Nishani.[11] After the Serbia–Albania match, the national team of Albania was given awards of honor and city recognition by the cities of Tirana, Vlore, Kamëz, and Bajram Curri.[12] However, the team finished last among the third-placed teams and didn't progress beyond the group stage.[13]

In 2020, Albania won a group for the first time by finishing first in group 4 of UEFA Nations League C. Albania also won a spot for the play-offs of the 2022 World Cup and was promoted in UEFA Nations League B.


Club Football in Albania

The Kategoria Superiore is the main division in Albania , their first season started in 1930.[14] Apart from 1938-1944 it would be taken place every season. The club with the most titels is KF Tirana who won this competition 25 times. [15]

The albanian league sides enjoyed success also in European football competitions.[16]

KF Tirana qualified three times in the Round of Sixteen in the European Cup first in 1982-83 defeating Linfield in the first round.[17] They achieved the same results in 1988-89 by defeating this time in the first round Ħamrun Spartans from Malta after two leg's.[18] They faced in the round of 16 the swedish league side IFK Göteborg but lost both matches after two legs were played.[19] In the following year in 1989-90 KF Tirana would once more qualify for the best 16 of Europe as they defeated this time another maltese side in Siliema Wanderers after two legs in the first Round. Their highest win at this competition came in the second leg at home defeating the Wanderers with 5-0.[20] They faced in the next round Bundesliga side FC Bayern Munich. They couldn't go through to the quarterfinals as they lost both leg's.[21]

In the UEFA Cup Flamutari Vlora is the most successful club for Albania. As they did compete for the first time in 1986-87 against FC Barcelona in the first Round drawing both matches and nearly qualified for the next stage, at this competition. Losing out on the away rule.[22] [23] At the following season in 1987-88 they achieved their greatest result so far. They qualified for the first time in the history at the Round of sixteen. Defeating surprisingly yugoslav side Partizan Belgrad with 2-0 at home and would qualify for the second round after an 1-2 defeat in which Sokol Kushta scored an famous goal for his club side. [24] In the following round Flamutari Vlora defeated then East german side Wismut Aue after two legs , winning at home with 2-0. They faced for the second time in a row Barcelona in which they lost the first leg in Camp Nou with 4-1 but would beat the spanish side in the following leg with 1-0 by an goal from Kushta, to secure the most famous win for albania in a UEFA club competition. [25]

Albania women's national football team

The women's national team was formed in 2011. The women's highest FIFA World Ranking was 40th in April 2015. The FIFA Women's World Cup 2015 was the first time Albania entered a senior competitive tournament.[citation needed]

Volleyball

Albania has a long tradition in volleyball as it is the second-most successful club sport in Albania after football.[citation needed] Especially the Albanian female national team have an strong reputation in this sport. The women of Dinamo Tirana reached the final of the CEV Women's Champions League twice in their history, in 1979–80 and 1989–90. Finishing both times in third place. The best sport achievement for Albania out of any club sports, they participated so far.[citation needed]

The Albania women's national volleyball team won the Gold medal at the 1987 Mediterranean Games in Syria, their biggest success ever.[26] In the following Mediterranean Games in 1991 they finished their campaign in 4th place.[27]

The Albania national team participated in the 2018 Women's European Volleyball League, defeating Estonia in the third-place match, winning an unforeseen bronze medal.[28]

Basketball

Main article: Albania men's national basketball team

EuroBasket

Albania competed in European championships at EuroBasket 1947 in Prague, Czechoslovakia,[29] and at EuroBasket 1957 in Sofia, Bulgaria.[30]

Mediterranean Games

Albania also participated twice at the Mediterranean Games in Basketball. Their debut participation came in 1991. They also participate in the 2009 Mediterranean Games in which they had their best performance by finishing 6th. Beating notably Serbia with 83-69 to secure their first win at this competition.[31]

Mediterranean Games
Year Position Pld W L
Greece 1991 8th 5 0 5
Italy 2009 6th 6 1 5
Total 11 1 10

Olympic Games

The Albania men's national basketball team , would try twice to qualify at the Summer Olympics in Basketball. As they participate in two Pre-Olympic Basketball Tournaments. First in the qualifying in 1972. They had three matches , losing all but one close against the Netherlands 84-81 missing out to the Playoffs.[32][33]

Their following participation came in 1992 in the 1992 Pre-Olympic Basketball Tournament. They competed in Group A. The albanians securing their first win at this competition against Switzerland 84-85 as it was their only win in their campaign. Albania had close loses against Italy 73-87 and Latvia with 78-94 despite that albania failed to qualify for the playoffs stage. With their 5th place finish.[34]

Mediterranean Games

Main article: Albania at the Mediterranean Games

Albania made his debut at the Mediterranean Games in 1987 Latakia ,Syria. It would be their most successful games as the women's of albania would win gold in Basketball and Volleyball.[35] Kristi Robo would win one Gold medal in Shooting. Albania won in total eight medals in their campaign. To finish the 1987 Mediterranean Games in an 11th place finish.

Their most successful sport is Weightlifting in which Albania won 25 medals in which of them being 5 gold medals, 10 silver and 10 bronze medals. Followed by sports such as Shooting 7 medals and Athletics with six medals with one being gold. Albania won so far 45 medals in which of them being 9 Gold, 18 Silver and 18 Bronze medals, since their debut.[36] They won medals in eight different sport competitions. Ranking 18th in the all-time medal table.

Boxing

Boxing is a successful Sport in Albania.

Albania competed recently at the AIBA World Boxing Championships held in 2021 Belgrade. Alban Beqiri would win the first ever medal for Albania at this Competition. Winning Bronze in the Light middleweight category.[37]

Florian Marku is a former Kickboxer who compete in boxing. In 2014 he won the WKU World Championship in Kickboxing.[38] He would win the IBF world title against Maxim Prodan. He won after 10 rounds via split decision.[39] Being declared Boxing world Champion.[40] He recently fought against Jorick Luisetto in the Wembley Stadium, extending his unbeaten record in Boxing , after beating him via split decision.[41]

Albania would compete in Boxing at the 2018 Mediterranean Games held in Tarragona. Krenar Zeneli would secure the silver medal in Boxing at the 2018 Mediterranean Games – Men's bantamweight, the first medal for Albania in Boxing at the Mediterranean Games [42]

Athletics

Further information: Category:Albanian athletes, Category:Albania at the World Championships in Athletics, and Category:Albania at the European Athletics Championships

Athletics has been a successful individual sport in Albania. Izmir Smajlaj won gold in the men's long jump in 2017 European Athletics Indoor Championships in Belgrade and Luiza Gega who won silver at the 2013 Summer Universiade in the 1500 metres run. The first medal for Albania at the Summer Universiade.[43] She also won silver in the women's 3000 metres steeplechase in the 2016 European Championships in Athletics in Amsterdam.[44]

Luiza Gega would also compete for Albania at the 2016 Summer Olympics and 2020 Summer Olympics in the Women's 3000 metres steeplechase. She would be the Flag bearer for Albania at the Summer Olympics in 2016 [45] and 2020 together with Briken Calja. Luiza Gega would qualify as the first Albanian in the history for Albania to the finals in Athletics at the 2020 Summer Olympics. As she would finish in 5th place with an time of 9:23.85 at the end enough to qualify for the final.[46] In which she would finish in 13th respectively.[47]

Albania is also successful in Athletics at the Mediterranean Games in which they won six medals. One gold , two silvers and three times bronze. Luiza Gega is the most successful athlete for Albania at this competition. Winning first silver in 2013 and her second medal came at the 2018 Mediterranean Games winning Gold in the 3000 metres steeplechase.[48]

Shooting

Shooting is a well known sport in Albania.

The most known shooter from Albania is Elizabeta Karabolli who won three medals at the European Shooting Championships. She won her first medal in 1977 Rome bronze then Silver in 1978 and Gold in Frankfurt 1979 in the 25 m pistol discipline. She was the first female European champion in shooting for Albania [49]

Ermira Dingu won in the 50m rifle prone her first Gold medal in 1980 Madrid , the first medal in this category for her Country.[50] Lindita Kodra became the third European female Shooting Champion for Albania in 2007 Granada in Spain.[51] She also represented Albania at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Albania won in total 5 medals at the European Shooting Championships in which of them being three Gold , one silver and one bronze.[52]

Weightlifting

Further information: Category:Albanian weightlifters

Weightlifting is one of the most successful individual sports for the Albanians, with the national team winning medals at the European Weightlifting Championships and other international competitions. Albanian weightlifters have won a total of 27 medals at the European Championships with 5 of them being gold, 11 silver and 11 bronze. In the World Weightlifting Championships, the Albanian weightlifting team has won one gold medal in 1972, a silver in 2002 and a bronze in 2011. At the Mediterranean Games, the nation has won 5 gold, 10 silver and 10 bronze medals.[53][citation needed]

Medalists at European Championships
Medal Name Year Event
 Bronze Agron Haxhihyseni France Reims 1987 Men's 52 kg
 Bronze Luan Shabani Greece Athens 1989 Men's 56 kg
 Bronze Artur Duraj Denmark Aalborg 1990 Men's 60 kg
 Bronze Ilirian Suli Bulgaria Sofia 2000 Men's 77 kg
 Silver Fetie Kasaj Poland Władysławowo 2006 Women's 58 kg
 Silver Romela Begaj Italy Lignano Sabbiadoro 2008 Women's 58 kg
 Silver Erkand Qerimaj Romania Bucharest 2009 Men's 77 kg
 Bronze Romela Begaj Romania Bucharest 2009 Women's 58 kg
 Silver Romela Begaj Belarus Minsk 2010 Women's 58 kg
 Bronze Erkand Qerimaj Belarus Minsk 2010 Men's 77 kg
 Bronze Daniel Godelli Russia Kazan 2011 Men's 69 kg
 Silver Romela Begaj Turkey Antalya 2012 Women's 58 kg
 Silver Daniel Godelli Albania Tirana 2013 Men's 69 kg
 Bronze Romela Begaj Albania Tirana 2013 Women's 58 kg
 Gold Erkand Qerimaj Israel Tel Aviv 2014 Men's 77 kg
 Silver Daniel Godelli Israel Tel Aviv 2014 Men's 77 kg
 Bronze Erkand Qerimaj Croatia Split 2017 Men's 77 kg
 Gold Briken Calja Romania Bukarest 2018 Men's 69 kg
 Silver Briken Calja Georgia (country) Batumi 2019 Men's 73 kg
 Bronze Briken Calja Russia Moscow 2021 Men's 73 kg
Medalists at World Championships
Medal Name Year Event
 Bronze Romela Begaj United States Anaheim 2017 Women's 69 kg

National sports teams

Football

Basketball

Volleyball

Tennis

See also

Sporting venues

National leagues

Sports events

References

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