Algerian boxer Imane Khelif had an emphatic response after winning her quarter final bout.
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif had an emphatic four-word response after clinching a medal in the Olympics following following the fierce debate regarding her participation.
After seeing Angela Carini of Italy withdraw just 46 seconds into their fight after she was caught with two punches which she said were the “hardest’ she had ever been hit with, Khelif became the talk of the town on social media.
Mass information falsely stating she was transgender spread online like wildfire and prompted the IOC (International Olympic Committee) to issue multiple statements addressing the matter.
Khelif’s father, Omar, was also forced to leap to his daughter’s defence and confirm she was born a female such was the backlash.
Cristiano Ronaldo offers Karim Benzema his sunglasses to hide his tears
Khelif was banned by the International Boxing Association after the governing body said she and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting failed gender eligibility tests and “have XY chromosomes” but it is the Paris Boxing Unit (PBU) overseeing proceedings currently and they allowed both to compete as they did three years ago in Tokyo.
Image: Getty
In her second appearance in between the ropes in Paris, Khelif took on Hungarian Anna Luca Hamor in the women’s welterweight quarter final and put on a clinic.
Despite being docked a point for excessive holding, Khelif won unanimously on the judges’ scorecards after controlling the 66kg fight.
She showed great sportsmanship with her opponent afterwards, sharing an embrace before opening up the ropes for her to exit the ring.
The 25-year-old then celebrated passionately with her coaches before crying tears of joy.
After the outpouring of emotion, Khelif had a simple but effective statement for the media.
As per The Telegraph, she said, “I am a woman” – responding to the criticism and uproar she has had to contend with over the last few days.
Seeded fifth going into the competition, Khelif is guaranteed a medal and takes on Janjaem Suwannapheng of Thailand in Tuesday’s semi final.
Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Olympics, Boxing
Imane Khelif’s father speaks out for the first time following Paris Olympics controversy
The boxer’s father has spoken out.
Imane Khelif’s father has spoken out in support of his daughter following her controversial victory against Angela Carini in the women’s boxing.
Carini withdrew 46 seconds into the bout against Khelif after deciding she could no longer continue after being hit with two punches which she described as the ‘hardest’ she’d ever felt.
The controversy stems from Khelif previously failing a gender eligibility test which meant she was disqualified from last year’s World Championships.
Despite a lot of misinformation online, Khelif was born female and has not transitioned.
She was cleared to compete in the 2024 Games earlier this month as well as Taiwan competitor Lin Yu-ting as it was administered by a different body to the World Championships.
The 25-year-old will now face Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori in the second round after she defeated Australian star Marissa Williamson via split decision.
Ahead of the second round, Khelif’s father, Omar Khelif, has finally spoken out in support of his daughter and called for the spreading of misinformation to stop.
Speaking to Sky News, he said: “My child is a girl, she was raised as a girl.
“She’s a strong girl, I raised her to be hard-working and brave, she has a strong will to work and train.”
“The Italian opponent she faced was unable to defeat my daughter because my daughter was stronger and she was softer,” he added.
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Imane Khelif- Getty
The second round bout will take place on Saturday 3 August, and the Hungarian has revealed she has no fear despite Khelif’s opening round controversy.
“I’m not scared. I don’t care about the press story and social media.”
Hamori also spoke about Carini’s decision to stop the fight, it was her choice,” she explained.
“I don’t understand, because I thought every boxer’s mind is the same like mine, to never give up. But it was her choice. We don’t know what was the reason. It’s her life, but I know I want to do this in my own life.”
Featured Image Credit: Getty/Sky News
Topics: Boxing, Olympics, Italy
Tom Jenkins
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Imane Khelif breaks silence with three-word social media message after controversial Olympics boxing victory over Angela Carini
The Algeria star has broken her silence
Imane Khelif’s victory against Angela Carini in the women’s boxing has caused controversy at the Olympic Games.
Carini withdrew 46 seconds into the bout against Khelif after deciding she could not longer continue after being hit with two punches.
The controversy stems from Khelif previously failing a gender eligibility test meaning she was disqualified from last year’s World Championships.
She was cleared to compete in the 2024 Games earlier this month as well as Taiwan competitor Lin Yu-ting as it was administered by a different body to the World Championships.
Last year’s competition in India was organised by the International Boxing Association (IBA), which is no longer a federation recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
After her controversial win, the Algerian broke her social media silence with a message to her fans.
She wrote on her official Instagram account: “Elhamdolilah. First Victory.”
The 25-year-old will face Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori after she defeated Australian star Marissa Williamson via split decision.
Their bout will take place on Saturday 3 August at 4:22pm.
Imane Khelif Instagram
Khelif dodged the media after she exited the arena following her controversial win against Carini.
Speaking after withdrawing from Thursday’s fight, Carini explained why she had pulled out of the bout after initially agreeing to fight.
“I have always honoured my country with loyalty,” she said. “This time I didn’t succeed because I couldn’t fight anymore.
“I put an end to the match because after the second blow, after years of experience in the ring and a life of fighting, I felt a strong pain in my nose.
“I said ‘that’s enough’ because… I could not bring the match to an end. So I thought, maybe it’s better to put an end to the match.”
Imane Khelif will fight again on Saturday (Getty)
British boxing expert Steve Bunce revealed fighters’ opinions on Khelif’s participation in the games, claiming not all female fighters are opposed to her inclusion.
He told the BBC: “I think it has hurt Olympic boxing at a crucial time where its future is still being discussed. It’s an absolute disaster.
“What’s interesting is in the build up to the fight, some of her old opponents, good fighters, world champions and European champions, have said [Khelif] is not a cheat.
“She’s not a devastating puncher, that is only her fifth stoppage.
“Carini, I feel for her absolutely, but you have to feel a little bit for Khelif, she’s stuck in the middle of something here that’s absolutely devastating and it’s not over yet.”Featured Image Credit: Olympics/Getty
Topics: Boxing, Olympics
Imane Khelif clinches Olympic medal in boxing competition amid controversy
Imane Khelif of Algeria faced Hungarian Anna Luca Hamori in the women’s 66kg quarter final as debate over her participation continues.
Imane Khelif returned to the ring with a second consecutive victory at the North Paris Arena on Saturday as debate over her participation in the Olympic event continues.
Khelif’s involvement in the showpiece has become one of the most talked about topics relating to this year’s games in Paris.
The controversy stems from Algerian Khelif and Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan being banned from the Women’s World Championships in New Delhi, India last year.
IBA, the governing body at the time, said that both “have XY chromosomes” and failed gender eligibility tests.
However, the IBA were stripped of its duties as a governing body by the IOC (International Olympic Committee) and replaced by the Paris Boxing Unit (PBU) for the Olympics.
They allowed both to compete, as they did in the delayed Tokyo Olympics back in 2021.
Khelif was born a female and has not transitioned despite mass misinformation spread online.
Olympic boxing- Getty
Her second round encounter in the women’s welterweight competition saw Angela Carini of Italy withdraw just 46 seconds into their fight after she was caught with two punches which she said were the “hardest’ she had ever been hit with.
She then said it was unfair that Khelif was allowed to compete, causing an almighty storm that she later apologised for.
Khelif progressed to the quarter final of the 66kg bracket and was paired against Hungarian Anna Luca Hamori, who received backlash for a series of Instagram posts which fans called “disgusting” and “sad”.
Despite having a point removed for excessive holding, she controlled the three-round fight in slick fashion with her jab and qualified for the semi finals after a clean sweep victory on the judges’ scorecards.
She showed sportsmanship by sharing an embrace with her opponent and opening up the rope for her to exit the ring.
Image: Getty
The 25-year-old was overcome with tears of joy as she celebrated with her coaches after guaranteeing at least a bronze medal.
On Thursday, the IOC posted a detailed statement clarifying the matter and why Khelif is able to fight, while the Algerian Olympic Committee said the boxer was a victim of “unethical targeting” and “baseless propaganda”.
Khelif has largely remained silent, though her father Omar leapt to her defence and told Sky News her previous opponent was beaten “because my daughter was stronger and she was softer”.
