By Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has secured her place in the gold-medal bout of the women’s welterweight division at the Paris Olympics, overcoming not just her opponents but also a storm of controversy surrounding misconceptions about her gender. Khelif’s journey to the final has been marked by impressive performances and unwavering determination in the face of international scrutiny.
In Tuesday night’s semifinal at Roland Garros, Khelif defeated Janjaem Suwannapheng of Thailand with a unanimous 5-0 decision. The victory ensures that Khelif will win at least a silver medal, marking Algeria’s first in women’s boxing. She now stands one win away from clinching the country’s second-ever boxing gold medal.
Khelif’s path to the final has been nothing short of dominant. She has won every round on every judge’s card in her two full-length fights in Paris. Her semifinal performance saw her control the bout against Suwannapheng, who faced a standing 8-count late in the third round after absorbing a series of punches.
The Algerian boxer’s Olympic run has been overshadowed by controversy stemming from the Olympic-banished International Boxing Association’s (IBA) decision to disqualify her from last year’s world championships, allegedly for failing an eligibility test. This decision, along with a similar ruling against Lin Yu-ting of Chinese Taipei, has placed Khelif at the center of a global debate over gender identity and safety regulations in sports.
The controversy intensified after Khelif’s first Olympic bout, which ended abruptly when her opponent, Angela Carini of Italy, abandoned the fight after just 46 seconds. This incident sparked a flurry of false claims and accusations about Khelif’s gender identity from high-profile figures and on social media platforms.
Addressing the scrutiny, Khelif told SNTV, a sports video partner of The Associated Press, that the wave of hateful scrutiny she faces “harms human dignity” and called for an end to athlete bullying. She expressed that winning a gold medal would be the “best response” to the uproar surrounding her participation.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and its president, Thomas Bach, have repeatedly defended Khelif’s Olympic eligibility, condemning the IBA’s actions as incompetent and biased. The controversy has also drawn strong reactions from Algeria’s Olympic team and fans, with a notable turnout of supporters at Roland Garros chanting Khelif’s name throughout her matches.
As Khelif prepares for her gold-medal bout against Yang Liu of China on Friday, she carries not only her personal aspirations but also the hopes of her nation and the weight of a contentious debate about gender in sports. Her performance in Paris has been a powerful statement, showcasing her skill and determination in the face of intense scrutiny.
Source: apnews.com
