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The European Weightlifting Championship, which is taking place in Batumi, Georgia, has been accompanied by positive results for Albania, but also by controversy over the refereeing decisions. While Briken Calja managed to be declared European champion in the clean and jerk style, the case of Erkand Qerimaj has sparked debate in the sports community.
Briken Calja confirmed his high level by winning the gold medal in the push-up style and finishing runner-up in the two-stroke. This result places him among Albania's most successful athletes in this discipline.
Erkand Qerimaj, one of the most prominent Albanian weightlifters, faced the cancellation of all three of his clean and jerk attempts. The most controversial moment was the second attempt at 184 kg, which was initially successful but later deemed illegal by the judges due to an alleged foul.
As a result, Qerimaj was left without a result in this style and consequently without a ranking in the two-race event.
Qerimaj himself has reacted publicly on social media, calling the decision unfair and publishing footage that, according to him, shows the validity of the evidence.
Both athletes, Calja (36 years old) and Qerimaj (37 years old), are considered key figures in Albanian weightlifting and are in the final stages of their sports careers. The performance in this championship was seen as another important moment in their international balance.
According to sports assessments, if Qerimaj's 184 kg attempt would have been considered regular:
he could have ranked third in the push-up style (bronze medal),
and in fifth place in the two-stroke.
However, these remain hypothetical estimates and not official results.
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