Briken Calja is the only Albanian weightlifter participating in the World Championship that started on December 5 in Bogota, Colombia. 

Under the status of the world champion, the athlete of the Tirana club has spent a very difficult year with many injuries, so much so that he risked his career, but now everything is over. In a final interview before his competition on Saturday, the weightlifter Shtërmeni tells us about his final preparations. 

"I've had changes for the better compared to the last World Cup, every test I've done I've had better results than previous years, now it's up to the competition to do the best there", said Briken Calja-weightlifter. 

Unlike other championships, this World Championship, as a qualifier for the Olympic Games, has already undergone a change in the points collection structure, compressing several weight categories into only 5, a move that multiplies the competition. 

"I can say that I have a very strong competition ahead because it is a qualifying competition and it has become extremely difficult as 3 weights have been combined in 1, 67 kg and 81 kg have moved up to 73 kg. However, I can say that this thing does not scare me at all, the one who scares me is only Briken, if Briken will be in his best form, he will do miracles", said Briken Calja.

But when will Briken Calja debut in the World Cup and how does he predict this competition? 

"The competition is on the 9th, I am very good physically, I am much higher than the other competitions and I hope to go to the end like this and do my best and why not bring medals to Albania", declared the weightlifter. 

In his last tests in Albania, Calja, in addition to his coach Gerald Toska, also had the assistance of the well-known coach Zef Kovaçi.