Khelif Wins Again to Reach Final Amid Controversy Over Eligibility
Boxer Imane Khelif Advances to Olympic Final Amid Eligibility Controversy
Khelif Wins Again to Reach Final Amid Controversy Over Eligibility Imane Khelif will compete for an Olympic gold medal on Friday after overcoming controversy surrounding her eligibility. The Algerian welterweight secured a dominant victory in her semi-final match against Janjaem Suwannapheng in Paris.
Khelif, disqualified from last year’s World Championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA) due to failed gender eligibility tests, is one of two boxers competing in Paris despite this ruling. The IBA had reported that Khelif did not meet the eligibility criteria for the women’s competition.
In a packed Court Philippe Chatrier, repurposed for the boxing finals, Khelif showcased her prowess and won by unanimous decision. The victory marks her advancement to her first Olympic final, having previously been eliminated in the quarter-finals in Tokyo.
Khelif will face Liu Yang of China in the gold-medal bout, aiming to become the first Algerian to win an Olympic boxing gold. “I am focused,” said the 25-year-old. “I am here for a good performance and my dream. I will give everything I have for the final.”
Khelif had previously defeated Suwannapheng by unanimous decision at last year’s World Championships before being disqualified. The crowd at Court Philippe Chatrier showed strong support, chanting her name as she entered the ring. After the win, Khelif celebrated by dancing on the canvas, and the match concluded with a friendly embrace between the fighters.
Suwannapheng commented, “I had heard about the news regarding her, but I wasn’t following it closely. She is a woman, but she is very strong. I tried to use my speed, but my opponent was just too strong.”
Khelif expressed her gratitude, saying, “I am very happy. I am happy for all the support here in Paris. I want to thank all of the people of Algeria who came here.”
Khelif’s Olympic journey began with a brief win against Angela Carini, who withdrew after just 46 seconds, citing concerns for her safety. This led to widespread debate over the eligibility of Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting, who was also disqualified by the IBA last year.
The IBA stated that Khelif did not meet their eligibility criteria, but the International Olympic Committee (IOC) disagreed, allowing her and Lin to compete. The IOC, which had suspended the IBA in 2019 due to concerns about its finances and governance, supported their participation. IOC President Thomas Bach affirmed that there was “never any doubt” about their eligibility as women.
Despite a chaotic press conference by the IBA, which offered conflicting explanations for the disqualifications, the IOC clarified that competitors are eligible for the women’s division if their passports state they are female.
Khelif, already guaranteed a bronze medal by reaching the semi-finals, will now compete in the final of the Olympic Games in three days. Lin Yu-ting will fight in her semi-final in the 57kg category on Wednesday.
