Imane Khelif Wins Gold in Welterweight, Overcoming Eligibility Controversy
Imane Khelif Wins Gold in Welterweight, Overcoming Eligibility Controversy In the Paris 2024 Olympic welterweight final, Algeria’s Imane Khelif overcame a major eligibility controversy to defeat China’s Yang Liu by unanimous decision.
Imane Khelif Wins Gold beat China’s Yang Liu by unanimous decision to win the Olympic welterweight final at Roland Garros in Paris.
Imane Khelif Triumphs in Paris 2024 Amidst Eligibility Controversy
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif won the gold medal in the Olympic welterweight final at Paris 2024, defeating China’s Yang Liu by unanimous decision. Khelif’s victory came despite intense scrutiny and a major eligibility controversy that has shadowed her throughout the tournament.
Khelif had faced significant pressure and media attention due to ongoing debates about her eligibility. The controversy stemmed from her disqualification alongside Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yu-ting from the 2023 World Championships, following a ruling by the International Boxing Association (IBA) that barred them from women’s boxing categories. However, the specifics of the eligibility test remain unclear, and the IBA’s credibility has been questioned amid concerns about corruption, bout manipulation, and financial transparency. This led to the IOC banning the IBA from overseeing Olympic boxing.
Throughout the competition, Khelif endured harsh criticism and online abuse, prompting the IOC to condemn the threats and support the athlete. Khelif herself called for an end to the bullying, stating, “It can destroy people.”
In the final match at Roland Garros, Khelif built a commanding lead over the first two rounds against Yang. Despite Yang’s attempts to use her southpaw jab and combinations to fight back, Khelif’s relentless aggression and precise punches earned her clear victories in each round. The Algerian’s superior performance was evident as all five judges scored in her favor.
After the unanimous decision was announced, Khelif celebrated with her coach and supporters, who carried her around the arena. This victory marks a historic moment as Khelif became the first woman from Africa and the Arab world to win an Olympic gold in boxing.
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