After successful lifts of 98 kg and 100 kg, Carja attempted a challenging 103 kg on her third lift to secure the gold medal, but she was unsuccessful.

This is another success for our team participating in these games, after the two medals won by weightlifter Briken Calja.

These latest victories bring Albania’s total haul to six medals: two gold (Islam Dudaev, Briken Calja), one silver (Zelimkhan Abakarov), and three bronze (Ardit Zeneli, Briken Calja, Enkileda Carja). /p.s./

Albania’s national team, coached by Alban Bushi, finished the group stage of the “Taranto 2026” tournament with a 2-0 loss to Algeria.

The Red and Blacks also recorded a 3-1 win against Kosovo and a 1-1 draw with Italy. Thus, Albania wrapped up a solid tournament run with one win, one draw and one defeat.

Group B standings:

Algeria 9 points

Italy 4 points

Albania 4 points

Kosovo 0 points

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Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxha appreciated Dudaev’s success and said it was a historic day for Albanian sports.

“Gold for Albania! Islam Dudaev wins the 74kg freestyle wrestling final at the Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games, delivering the country’s first gold of the tournament. Historic day for Albanian sport!!”, wrote Gonxhja in the social media.

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The minister highlighted a key new feature of this year’s event: housing the athletes on the giant cruise ship AROYA, which has been transformed into a modern floating village for the delegations.

“We extend our best wishes to our athletes. May your performances be dignified, your efforts rewarded and our red and black flag raised high with honor and success.!”, the minister wrote.

The Mediterranean Games “Taranto 2026” gather in Italy athletes from the countries of the Mediterranean region, while Albania aims to be the protagonist with its largest representation in the history of this competition.

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“We are proud and motivated to represent Albania in the Mediterranean Games. This tournament is more than just a competition—it is a chance to showcase the true character, spirit and mentality of Albanian football. We face a tough group with Italy, Kosovo and Algeria. We respect our opponents, but we are not going there just to participate. Our clear objective is to qualify. Football is decided on the pitch through organization, belief, and hard work, not by names and history. Our squad is young and fresh, featuring players born in 2006, 2007, and 2008 who will form next season’s U-21 national team. This is a vital platform for them to prove their worth against top-level competition. Even though our domestic season has not started yet and we are building match fitness, I am confident we will deliver a strong performance”, said Bushi.

Alban Bushi, the U-21 national team coach, acknowledged that a short preparation time makes their upcoming Saturday match against Italy tough. He stressed that his staff will quickly implement key strategies, treating every game as a final with the ultimate goal of winning the tournament. /gj.m/j.p/p.s./

The red and black coach selected a balanced squad of domestic league veterans and rising international stars. The team blends local talent from the Abissnet Superiore and First Category with players from academies and clubs across the Netherlands, Greece, and Italy.

This tournament gives young Albanian players a great chance to gain international experience. Drawn into Group B, Albania will face Italy, Kosovo, and Algeria. The Red and Blacks kick off their campaign on August 22 against Italy in Lecce, followed by matches against Kosovo and Algeria. /gj.m/j.p/p.s./

Gonxhja took the opportunity to announce a boosted reward plan for elite athletes. First-place Mediterranean Games bonuses rise by 50%, second-place prizes double, coach rewards increase to 50% of the athlete’s bonus, and daily meal allowances jump from 3,500 to 5,000 lekë.

Minister Gonxha announced simpler rules for athletes. The Anti-Doping Office (OKAD) now handles doping checks directly. This cuts red tape for athletes while keeping sports clean and making state support fairer.

Further on, the minister said that the Albanian sports cannot rely on state funding alone.

“Hence, we are prioritizing a new sports sponsorship law to unlock private investment. By building a partnership between the government, businesses and athletes, we will create a stable and lasting financial future for our sports”, said Gonxhja.

The 20th Mediterranean Games in Taranto, Italy, will run from August 21 to September 3, 2026.

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The two mayors formalized this journey at the Palazzo di Città. It has already passed through several stages, such as the joint participation in Eurocities or the expectations offered by the Mediterranean Games.

“Tirana is a developing city, thanks also to the commitment of my friend Erion and his team”, Mayor Melucci emphasized.

“We have many things in common, so we want to strengthen even further these ties between Puglia and Albania, with our companies, with our young people, who will perhaps know how to lead us towards a common objective in 2026 and the Games Mediterranean of Taranto. Therefore, we are proud to welcome the mayor of Tirana and to be able to take together with him, a journey that will take us far”, said Melucci.

While the Mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj said that the fact that thousands of Albanians live in Puglia and vice versa, over 25 thousand Italian nationals have come to the Albanian capital, makes the two cities quite connected.

“I am proud of this relationship. In my city, there are 25 thousand Italians who work and live with us. During 30 years after collapse of communism, we have made great strides. We were almost like the North Korea of ​​Europe and now we are a developing nation and this is also thanks to the support of friendly countries, such as Italy,” said Veliaj.

He added that the agreement that was signed today and the joint twinning of the two cities prove that humanity is the most important bond of all. /j.p/p.s./