Imane Khelif to Fight for Gold Medal as Gender Row Continues

Publish date: Wednesday، 07 August 2024 Last update: Saturday، 21 December 2024

Imane Khelif of Algeria is one step away from fulfilling her dream at the Paris Olympics 2024. On Tuesday night, Khelif advanced to the final of the women's boxing event, ensuring a silver medal for Algeria. She triumphed over Thailand's Janjaem Suwannapheng, the 2023 world silver medallist, in a unanimous points decision in the semi-final.

The Journey So Far

The final bout of the women's 66kg boxing category is set for Friday. After her semi-final win, Khelif expressed her determination: "I am here to achieve my dream," she told.

Imane Khelif’s Gender Controversy

Khelif, along with Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting, has been at the center of a gender eligibility controversy at the Paris Games. Both were disqualified from last year's world championships for failing gender tests but were cleared to compete in Paris.

Imane Khelif to Fight for Gold Medal as Gender Row Continues

A Night to Remember

The atmosphere at Roland Garros was electric, with Algerian fans waving flags and chanting "Imane, Imane" as Khelif entered the ring. Despite a height disadvantage, Khelif dominated the match, causing Janjaem to receive a standing count in the third round. The fighters showed mutual respect, shaking hands after the bout.

Focused on the Final

Khelif emphasized her focus on the competition: "I am focusing on the competition and other things are not important. The important thing is that I am in the final now," she told BeIN Sports. She added, "I am very proud of this new achievement. I gave everything I had. We worked as a team for years and the dream has become a reality. I hope to focus and be up to the responsibility in the dream final."

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Imane Khelif to Fight for Gold Medal as Gender Row Continues

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