Imane Khelif wins boxing gold to cap 2024 Olympics defined by gender controversy

[Yomi]

Imane Khelif’s path through the 2024 Olympics — through the victories in her fights and the gender controversy that has overshadowed those wins — has ended with a gold medal.

Algerian Imane Khelif won welterweight gold Friday, dispatching China’s Yang Liu and overcoming a firestorm of questions from opponents wrongly questioning her gender.

Khelif won in a unanimous decision as a large Algerian crowd at Roland-Garros Stadium cheered her on with chants of “allez Imane” and “1, 2, 3 Algérie!”

“I’m very happy, God made that (happen), that’s my dream!” Khelif said moments after the bout.

Khelif said she heard her fans at Roland-Garros.

“I want to thank all the people here,” she said pointing into the stands, “and the people of Algeria to come support me, my coach and Team Algeria.”

All five judges had it 10-9 for Khelif in each round.

After the win, a man in her corner hoisted the fighter onto his shoulders and took Khelif on a victory lap as she held an Algerian flag over her head.

The fighter said she blocked out the outside noise and just concentrated on boxing.

“Yeah I’m very happy for my performance,” she said. “This fight for a win. Amazing. I prepared eight years in USA, in Europe, all over the world for this victory. Olympic championship! Thank you so much!!”

Khelif and another boxer, featherweight Lin Yu-Ting of Chinese Taipei, have been fighting under a cloud in France after the Algerian’s opening victory over Angela Carini, who quit after 46 seconds.

The Italian’s rapid surrender brought to light 2023 allegations made by the Russian-led International Boxing Association which removed those two fighters from a competition in New Delhi last year.

Despite those false allegations from an isolated Russian boxing body, Khelif was backed by throngs of Algerian fans who filled much of Roland-Garros Stadium and have rallied to her side this week.

Source: NBC

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