By Algerian boxer Imane Khelif secured her first victory at the Paris Olympics in an unexpected manner on Thursday when her opponent, Angela Carini of Italy, withdrew from their boxing match just 46 seconds into the first round.
The abrupt end to the match has sparked discussions and controversies, especially considering the background of Khelif’s participation in the games.
Khelif’s entry into the Olympics has been shrouded in controversy due to her disqualification from the 2023 World Championships. She was barred from competing after failing an unspecified gender eligibility test, a decision that raised eyebrows and discussions about athlete eligibility criteria. Despite this setback, Khelif was allowed to compete in the Paris Olympics, a decision that has divided opinions within the sporting community.
The match between Khelif and Carini began with both athletes exchanging a few punches. However, in a surprising turn of events, Carini walked away and abandoned the bout. Such occurrences are extremely rare in Olympic boxing, making this incident particularly noteworthy.
Observers noted that Carini’s headgear appeared to become dislodged at least once before she made the decision to quit. Visibly upset, Carini did not shake hands with Khelif after the decision was announced and instead was seen crying in the ring, kneeling in disappointment.
After the match, Carini, still emotional, explained that she decided to quit due to intense pain in her nose, which she began experiencing shortly after the match commenced. Carini, who had a noticeable spot of blood on her trunks, was quick to clarify that her decision was not a political statement, nor was it a refusal to compete against Khelif. “I felt a severe pain in my nose, and with the maturity of a boxer, I said, ‘Enough.’ Because I didn’t want to, I didn’t want to, I couldn’t finish the match,” Carini stated.
Carini further elaborated that she is not in a position to judge or pass judgment on Khelif’s eligibility to compete, emphasizing that her decision was based solely on her physical condition at the moment. “I am not here to judge or pass judgment,” Carini remarked. “If an athlete is this way, and in that sense, it’s not right or it is right, it’s not up to me to decide. I just did my job as a boxer. I got into the ring and fought. I did it with my head held high and with a broken heart for not having finished the last kilometer.”
Imane Khelif, who is a renowned boxer with an impressive track record, won a silver medal at the International Boxing Association’s 2022 World Championships. However, the same governing body disqualified her from the subsequent year’s championships shortly before her gold-medal match due to what was described as a “failure of the testosterone test.” This ruling has been a focal point of discussion, influencing perceptions of her participation in the current Olympics.
Khelif received a warm welcome at the North Paris Arena, greeted by cheers from supporters as she made her way to the ring. The venue buzzed with anticipation as the match unfolded, only to be met with an unforeseen conclusion.
The controversy surrounding Khelif’s eligibility did not deter her from advancing to the next round, where she is scheduled to fight on Saturday. I’ve prepared for this moment for years,” Khelif said after her victory. “My strategy has always been to fight with integrity and passion, and I look forward to representing Algeria with pride as the competition continues.”
