Controversial boxer Imane Khelif earned a place in boxing history tonight by earning a shot at Olympic gold.
The 25-year-old Algerian has been at the centre of the biggest controversy at Paris 2024 after she was allowed to compete at the Olympics despite previously being disqualified for failing a gender eligibility test.
But he overcame enormous public pressure – notably from the discredited International Boxing Association, which banned him from competing – to fight his way through to the final after beating Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng at the Roland Garros tennis stadium, which has been converted into a boxing arena.
After the referee raised his hand in victory, she danced around the ring with unbridled joy.
If Khelif reaches the podium, she will be the first Algerian woman to win an Olympic boxing medal.
Imane Khalif punches Janjaem Suwannapheng in the face during the women’s 66kg boxing semi-final at the 2014 Paris Olympics
Khalif was crowned winner of the match against Suwannapheng at the Roland Garros tennis stadium, converted into a boxing arena
After the referee raised his hand in victory, she danced around the ring with unbridled joy.
After the fight, Khelif declined to discuss the gender-based dispute surrounding it, but praised her opponent and thanked those who supported her.
Khelif said: ‘She was very good, but I trained for two weeks and watched videos of how she fights.
“I’m one step away from gold. Thanks to all the people who have supported me, especially the people of Algeria.”
The controversy surrounding Khelif erupted into a huge brawl after she beat her Italian opponent Angela Carini in just 46 seconds when Carini walked out of the match and fell to her knees in tears, declaring: “It’s just not fair.”
The Italian fueled claims that the Algerian is not a woman.
But Khelif also broke down in tears after her last fight, against Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori, when she shouted from the ring: “I am a woman.”
Tonight, supporters of the 25-year-old welterweight from rural Algeria offered her their unwavering support amid the heated gender dispute.
Algeria’s Imane Khelif cools down as she battles Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng in their 66kg women’s boxing semi-final bout
Imane Khelif gets hit in the face by Janjaem Suwannapheng during the women’s 66kg boxing semi-final
Algeria’s Imane Khelif in action against Janjaem Suwannapheng
Anna Azout, a 26-year-old lawyer, told MailOnline: “Khelif has been horribly mistreated. She is a victim of both sexism and racism. Some people in France simply do not want women, particularly foreign women, to succeed.”
Nariman, 50, a company director who came to watch the fight with her son Ramy Auzmann, 16, said: “Khelif has been treated very badly.
“She’s an athlete who just wants to participate in her sport and do her best, but she’s been turned into a political pawn.”
Other fans filled many of the seats in the intimate boxing venue.
Waving the green and white flag with the red crescent and star, the crowd rose to its feet and roared as Imane Khelif entered the arena.
And they chanted, “Khelif, Khelif” as she entered the box and occupied the blue corner.
Match referee Shawn Reese raises Imane Khelif’s arm to announce the winner of the women’s 66kg semi-final round match.
Imane Khelif of Algeria celebrates her victory against Janjaem Suwannapheng
Algeria’s Imane Khelif celebrates after defeating Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng in their 66kg women’s boxing semi-final bout
Algerian fans stand up as Imane Khelif enters the stadium.
Khelif threw a punch in the air before the first bell rang and the fight began.
In the second round, the entire stadium resonated with the chant “Khelif, Khelif” as she blew away at her tenacious Thai opponent.
Words of encouragement in Arabic echoed through the crowd as the pair wrestled, danced and dragged each other around the ring.
And the roar became almost deafening when Suwannapheng was forced into a standing count after taking a punch to the face in the third round.
(tags to translate)dailymail