Two weightlifters bring medals home from Tel Aviv, including a gold for long-time champion Erkand Qerimaj.
TIRANA, April 9 – The Albanian team has shined at the latest European Weightlifting Championship, with Erkand Qerimaj and Daniel Godelli bringing in the gold and silver medals.
Qerimaj won the gold medal at the European Championship held in Tel Aviv, Israel, for the 77 kg category, lifting 349 kg in total. Daniel Godelli won the second place with the same weight.
Qerimaj lifted 155 kg in the snatch style, two kilos less than the other Albanian, Godelli, with 157, taking the bronze medal there. Godelli received the silver medal in the joint result due to the heavier body than an Armenian weightlifter.
Qerimaj lifted more than any other competitor, 194 kg, receiving a gold medal in this style and leaving Godelli in the second place with two kilograms less.
At the women’s running, Romela Begaj disqualified due to an injury.
The Albanian prime minister congratulated the athletes for their performance in a public statement on his social media channels.
“Erkand Qerimaj at the top of Europe. Talent and sacrifices were rewarded with a gold medal. Respectfully bowing to our champion,” Prime Minister Edi Rama wrote in his Facebook page. “Deep respect for the silver (medal) of Daniel Godelli. Time to do more for weightlifting and talents in this sport.”
Albanian weightlifters have been a rare success story in Albanian sport. Very often, too, weightlifters have left the country to immigrate abroad to find better treatment and better financial support.
Greece has a main destination with immigrant Albanian talent turning into world champions under the Hellenic flag.
