Algeria’s Imane Khelif fought past the criticism targeted at her to beat Hungary’s Luca Anna Hamori by unanimous decision in the welterweight quarterfinals at the Paris Games and ensured Algeria’s first Olympic boxing medal since 2000.
Khelif, a silver medallist at the 2022 Worlds, and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting have been in the spotlight in recent days as part of a gender dispute that has dominated headlines and been the subject of much discussion on social media platforms.
Both boxers were disqualified at the 2023 World Championships in New Delhi after failing the International Boxing Association’s (IBA) eligibility rules preventing athletes with male XY chromosomes from competing in women’s events.
Khelif had a quick start against Hamori on Saturday, letting fly with flurries of lightning-quick punches to win the first two rounds on every judge’s scorecard, despite the Hungarian landing a couple of strong shots.
The Algerian was slightly less willing to engage in exchanges in the final round, which had more than its fair share of clinching and grappling, but she did enough to win by a comfortable margin.
The pair hugged after the final bell, before a tearful Khelif embraced her coaches on the sidelines.
Khelif will face Janjaem Suwannapheng of Thailand, whom she beat at the World Championships in 2023 before being disqualified, in Tuesday’s semifinals.
“It is hard, she has suffered a lot – as a child and now as a champion, she has suffered so much during these games,” said Khelif’s coach Mohamed Chaoua.
“Where is the humanity? Where are the associations for women’s rights? She is a victim.”
United Arab Emirates Dirham Exchange Rate
