Algerian boxer Imane Khelif secured at least a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics on Saturday. Visibly moved to tears after her quarter-final victory amidst a significant gender controversy,
Khelif, along with another boxer from Taiwan, was entangled in a global debate. She defeated Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori by a unanimous decision, advancing to the semi-finals of the women’s 66kg category. The competitors embraced warmly before the judges announced their decision, and a tearful Khelif left the ring to the cheers of her supporters.
Spectators at the North Paris Arena, including a large contingent of Algerians, chanted Khelif’s name before the match and applauded her entrance into the ring. Despite the controversy, Hamori, who had expressed reservations about competing against Khelif, displayed sportsmanship in defeat.
Khelif is set to face Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng in the semi-finals on Tuesday, vying for a spot in the final.
“After a second commanding win in Paris, I’m fighting for dignity and honour for every woman,” Khelif shared with BeIN Sports. She had previously defeated her initial opponent in just 46 seconds. Khelif criticized the International Boxing Association (IBA) for their past treatment but remained resolute, “I have God.”
Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting is also poised to secure a bronze in the women’s 57kg category, facing Bulgaria’s Svetlana Staneva in Sunday’s quarter-finals. Both Khelif and Lin were disqualified from last year’s world championships after failing IBA’s gender eligibility tests, which did not include a testosterone examination but involved another confidential test.
The boxing events in Paris are under the purview of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), due to governance and ethical issues with the IBA. The IOC has defended Khelif and Lin, affirming their female identity as documented in their passports. Neither boxer identifies as transgender.
Khelif’s father, Omar, asserted from their home in Algeria, “My child is a girl, raised as a girl and is strong. I raised her to work hard and be brave.”
