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Sport in Albania

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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. 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 as well.

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.

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.[1]

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.[2] At the end of the tournament Albania was considered to rank 9th in Europe.[3][4][5]

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,[6] its first appearance at a major men's football tournament after 50 years.[7] [8] This earned the team the Honor of Nation Order from Albania's President Bujar Nishani.[9] 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.[10] However, the team finished last among the third-placed teams and didn't progress beyond the group stage.[11]

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.

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.[citation needed]

The Albania women's national volleyball team won at the 1987 Mediterranean Games in Syria, their biggest success ever.[12]

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.[13]

Basketball

Main article: Albania men's national basketball team

EuroBasket

Albania competed in European championships at EuroBasket 1947 in Prague, Czechoslovakia,[14] and at EuroBasket 1957 in Sofia, Bulgaria.[15]

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.[16]

Florian Marku is a former Kickboxer who compete in boxing. In 2014 he won the WKU World Championship in Kickboxing.[17] He would win the IBF world title against Maxim Prodan. He won after 10 rounds via split decision.[18] Being declared Boxing world Champion.[19] He recently fought against Jorick Luisetto in the Wembley Stadium, extending his unbeaten record in Boxing , after beating him via split decision.[20]

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 [21]

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 won silver in the women's 3000 metres steeplechase in 2016 European Championships in Athletics in Amsterdam.[citation needed]

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 [22] 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.[23] In which she would finish in 13th respectively.[24]

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 19 medals at the European Championships with 2 of them being gold, 8 silver and 9 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, 9 silver and 10 bronze medals.[25][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 Denmark Aalborg 1990 Men's 60 kg
 Bronze Ilirian Suli Bulgaria Sofia 2000 Men's 77 kg
 Silver 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
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

  • List of football stadiums in Albania
  • Category:Sports venues in Albania

National leagues

  • Albanian Superliga – football
  • Albanian Basketball Superliga – basketball

Sports events

References

  1. ^ Dizdari, Besnik (2007). Ballkaniada 1946: Shqipëria – kampione e Ballkanit ne startin e "Luftës së ftohtë" në Evropë (in Albanian). Rozafat. pp. 2–10. ISBN 978-99943-979-0-7.
  2. ^ ""Euro 1964" / Greqia refuzoi nga "ligji i luftës", u kualifikua Shqipëria" ['Euro 1964' / Greece refused due to 'war law', Albania qualified]. Ekskluzive.al (in Albanian). 30 October 2018.
  3. ^ "Shqipëria në fazën finale? Nuk është hera e parë!" [Albania in final phase, its not the first time]. Panorama Sport (in Albanian). 14 October 2015.
  4. ^ UEFA. "Victories of Albania until Euro2016 qualifiers" (in Albanian).
  5. ^ Dizdari, Besnik (15 October 2015). "Dr. Armillotta ka të drejtë". Panorama-Sport (in Albanian).
  6. ^ "Albania win in Armenia to confirm qualification for first major tournament". The Guardian. 11 October 2015. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  7. ^ "Shqipëria në fazën finale? Nuk është hera e parë!".
  8. ^ Smith, Sam (10 June 2016). "Albania 0-1 Switzerland: Early Schar goal edges out ten-man Albania". vavel.com. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  9. ^ "Presidenti Nishani vlerëson arritjen historike të Kombëtares Shqiptare të Futbollit" [President Nishani praises the historic achievement of the Albanian National Football Team]. President.al (in Albanian). 12 October 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  10. ^ "Folklorizmi shkon në ekstrem, Vlora, Kamza dhe Bajram Curri shpallin 'Qytetar nderi' Armando Dukën e Canën". Gazeta Tema (in Albanian). 23 October 2014. Archived from the original on 1 June 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  11. ^ "Albania out of Euro 2016 after Portugal draw with Hungary". Fourfourtwo.com. 22 June 2016.
  12. ^ "1987 LATTAQUIÉ (SYR), (11/25 Septembre)" (PDF). www.cijm.org.gr. 2014-06-23. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2014-06-23. Retrieved 2021-11-22.
  13. ^ "Kombëtarja fiton medalje bronzi në volejboll për femra" [The national team wins bronze medal in women's volleyball] (in Albanian). Top-Channel.tv. 6 June 2018. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  14. ^ "Home | European Championship for Men (1947) | FIBA Europe". www.fibaeurope.com. Retrieved 2021-11-22.
  15. ^ "Home | European Championship for Men (1957) | FIBA Europe". www.fibaeurope.com. Retrieved 2021-11-22.
  16. ^ "Shkroi historinë për Shqipërinë, Alban Beqiri mbyll Botërorin e Boksit me medalje".
  17. ^ "Who is Florian Marku? The Albanian MMA fighter who challenges Coner McGregor. — xheni123 on Scorum".
  18. ^ "Boxer Florian Marku is declared world champion".
  19. ^ "Florian Marku World Champion by beating Maxim Prodan".
  20. ^ "Florian Marku wins against the boxer Jorick Luisetto". 21 November 2021.
  21. ^ "Amateur Boxing - Mediterranean Games 2018 - Results Men".
  22. ^ "Rio 2016: Albania to participate with only a handful of athletes – Tirana Times".
  23. ^ "Luiza Gega, e para shqiptare në histori që kualifikohet në një finale të atletikës në Lojërat Olimpike, Rama: Respekt kampione".
  24. ^ "Luiza Gega renditet e 13-ta në Lojërat Olimpike – Epoka e Re".
  25. ^ "Briken Calja Europe Champion in Weightlifting with 3 gold medals". Oculus News. Retrieved 2021-11-22.
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