Imane Khelif
PARIS: Imane Khelif, the Algerian boxer at the center of a gender dispute, achieved a significant victory on Tuesday at the Paris Olympics.
She secured a unanimous decision win over Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng in a welterweight semi-final match, advancing to the women’s final at Roland Garros.
Khelif, who earned a silver medal at the 2022 World Championships, has been a focal point of controversy alongside Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting.
Both athletes have faced intense scrutiny and media coverage due to their involvement in a gender dispute that has captured widespread attention on social media platforms.
Following her win, Khelif made a point to downplay the controversy, stating, “I don’t want anything to be said about the controversy.” The dispute stems from the disqualification of both Khelif and Lin from the 2023 World Championships in New Delhi.
The International Boxing Association (IBA) declared them ineligible following a press conference where a sex chromosome test was reportedly used as the basis for their exclusion. This decision was met with significant backlash, leading to the IBA’s eventual loss of its status as the governing body for boxing.
In response, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) stepped in to oversee boxing at the Paris Games, dismissing the IBA’s testing results as arbitrary and illegitimate. The IOC decided to use the eligibility rules from the 2016 and 2021 Olympics, which do not include gender testing.
During the semi-final match, Khelif’s performance was met with enthusiastic support from Algerian fans, who filled the repurposed Court Philippe Chatrier.
Despite a cautious first round where both boxers maintained distance, Khelif utilized her jab effectively to gain an edge.
Suwannapheng landed a significant right hand in the second round, but Khelif’s superior technique and aggressive final round secured her victory by unanimous decision. The crowd erupted in cheers as Khelif was announced as the winner.
After the bout, Khelif expressed her satisfaction with her performance, noting, “I just had the performance I was looking to deliver today to make the fans happy.” She celebrated by jogging in the ring with a broad smile before heading for a quick medical check.
In contrast, Suwannapheng, when asked about the controversy, commented, “I have not followed the controversy closely but all I know is that she is a woman and she is a strong fighter.”
Khelif will face Yang Liu of China in the final on Friday. Meanwhile, Lin Yu-ting also advanced to the semi-finals in the featherweight category and will compete against Turkey’s Esra Yildiz on Wednesday.
The controversy surrounding Khelif and Lin intensified following the withdrawal of Angela Carini from their round-of-16 bout last week, citing intense pain and safety concerns after being overwhelmed by Khelif’s punches.
The incident sparked a heated debate on social media, with high-profile figures like author J.K. Rowling and Tesla founder Elon Musk expressing their opposition to the participation of Khelif and Lin in the Games.
Despite the controversy, Khelif’s recent victory has solidified her position in the final and continues to stir discussions surrounding gender, eligibility, and the politics of sports.
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