Olympic

Imane Khelif Wins Gold at Roland Garros Boxing Arena

Imane Khelif, an Algerian boxer secured Olympic women’s boxing gold at Paris 2024, a year after being disqualified from the World Championships due to gender eligibility concerns. The 25-year-old faced intense scrutiny and was accused of failing gender tests but was allowed to compete in Paris. Khelif defeated Chinese world champion Yang Liu by unanimous decision in the welterweight final, marking a significant victory.

Khelif expressed that the criticisms over her gender eligibility added a “special taste” to her triumph, stating, “I am a woman like any other woman… I competed as a woman.” She also claimed to be a victim of “bullying” by the International Boxing Association (IBA), accusing them of unfair treatment. In the final, Khelif dominated the fight, confidently showboating as the final bell rang.

The arena filled with Algerian supporters waving flags, erupted in celebration. Yang Liu, in a show of sportsmanship, raised Khelif’s arm after the result was announced. Khelif’s victory was particularly poignant, as Yang was supposed to face her in last year’s World Championship final before Khelif’s disqualification. Khelif’s path to gold was fraught with controversy, as several opponents and their coaching teams voiced strong objections to her participation.

Despite the criticism, Khelif persevered and secured the gold medal. Italy’s Angela Carini, who faced Khelif in the opening round, even abandoned the bout, citing concerns for her safety. Other boxers, including Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori and Turkey’s Esra Yildiz Kahraman also voiced their objections. Despite the criticism, Imane Khelif stood firm, sending a message of resilience and calling for an end to bullying.

She dedicated her victory to the Olympic values, emphasizing the importance of dignity and honor in sport.

Cataleya

Recent Posts

Barcelona Delays Camp Nou Return Until February 2024

Barcelona announced on Wednesday that they will delay their return to the Camp Nou until…

18 hours ago

Sergio Garcia Rejoins DP World Tour, Eyes 2025 Ryder Cup

Sergio Garcia has rejoined the DP World Tour with the goal of making a record-equalling…

19 hours ago

Nelly Korda Eyes Eighth Win at 2024 CME Championship

Nelly Korda, the current world No. 1 is proving herself as the dominant force in…

19 hours ago

Lautaro Martinez Equals Maradona in Argentina Win Over Peru

Lautaro Martinez scored a decisive goal to equal Diego Maradona's tally on the all-time Argentina…

19 hours ago

Marcus Smith Improves Attack Partnership, Says England Coach

Marcus Smith has been improving his partnership with England's attack, according to assistant coach Andrew…

19 hours ago

Will Skelton Previews Tough Test for Wallabies vs Scotland

Will Skelton, the Australian forward has described their upcoming match against Scotland on Sunday as…

20 hours ago