Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has made headlines at the Paris Olympics 2024, not only for her impressive performance but also due to a heated gender controversy.
The 25-year-old athlete has been at the center of a storm regarding her eligibility to compete in the women's category. Despite the scrutiny, Khelif has continued to excel in the ring.
On Tuesday evening, Khelif secured her place in the women's welterweight boxing final by defeating Thailand's Janjaem Suwannapheng in a unanimous points decision.
The match took place at the Roland Garros Stadium in Paris, where a large contingent of Algerian fans cheered her on.
The victory guarantees Khelif at least a silver medal, with a shot at gold in Friday's final against either China's Yang Liu or Taiwan's Chen Nien-chin.
Khelif's journey to the final has been marked by emotional highs and lows. She was visibly overwhelmed after her quarter-final victory over Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori, shedding tears and repeatedly slamming the floor of the ring in celebration. This win ensured Algeria's first boxing medal since 2000.
The gender controversy surrounding Khelif began when she and Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting were disqualified from last year's world championships after failing gender eligibility tests administered by the International Boxing Association (IBA).
However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) dismissed these tests as "illegitimate" and defended both athletes' participation in the Paris Games. IOC President Thomas Bach emphasized that Khelif and Lin were born female, have lived their lives as women, and possess female passports.
Despite the IOC's support, Khelif has faced intense scrutiny and false accusations about her gender identity. In response, she has called for an end to the bullying of athletes, urging the public to adhere to the Olympic principles and avoid divisive behavior.
Khelif's father, Amar Khelif, expressed pride in his daughter's achievements, describing the criticism as "immoral" and "not fair." He highlighted that Imane has been passionate about sports since she was six years old and has always competed as a female.
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