Boxer Imane Khelif defeated Janjaem Suwannapheng to guarantee herself a silver or gold Olympic medal – and declared she “doesn’t care” about the controversy over her place in Paris.
The participation of the Algerian and Chinese Taipei featherweight Lin Yu-ting in the women’s boxing at the Olympics has sparked a storm since Khelif beat Angela Carini of Italy in just 46 seconds in her opening bout last Thursday.
Khelif put on a boxing clinic to make history and reach the Olympic finalCredit: Getty
Both Khelif and Lin were disqualified by the International Boxing Association (IBA) during last year’s World Championships for failing to meet gender eligibility criteria.
But they were controversially cleared to return to competition for Paris 2024 by the International Olympic Commitee (IOC).
The case has aroused global interest, with figures such as former United States president Donald Trump and Harry Potter author JK Rowling weighing in on the issue.
Carini said she had pulled out after being hit harder than she had ever been hit in her opening round fight against Khelif.
Khelif took on Thai competitor Suwannapheng in the semi-final stage of the women’s 66kg competition with a win needed to guarantee herself a silver or gold medal and a place in the final.
And the 25-year-old Algerian, who was roared on by a raucous crowd at Roland Garros, won the bout in impressive fashion dominating from start to finish to seal a unanimous decision win.
Khelif even inflicted a standing count on her opponent in the final round. And she danced in the ring after the bout letting out her frustration and excitement.
A defiant Khelif then said after her victory: “I don’t care what anyone is saying about me with the controversy.
“All that is important to me is that I stay on the level and give my people the performance they deserve. I know I’m a talented person and this is a gift to all Algerians.”
The opening round began with Suwannapheng looking good and boxing with confidence early on, as she looked to take the bout to Khelif.
Khelif was not as aggressive as in previous bouts in the first round, but did find her rhythm and was up on the judges’ scorecards.
Khelif unloaded a four-punch combo to score a standing count in a special final round
Khelif was declared the winner and has reached the final
It was a much faster paced middle stanza, with Khelif starting to let her hands go and show off her sizzling punch power which gave her an unassailable lead of all ten cards on the judges’ scorecards.
Suwannapheng needed a stoppage in the final round and attempted to put her foot on the gas, but Khelif showed her class even scoring a standing count on her helpless rival.
She sealed her place in the gold medal final and will no doubt go into the contest as favourite.
It has been a turbulent Olympics for Khelif, who was cleared alongside Lin-Yu Ting to compete despite being at the heart of a gender row.
The International Boxing Association [IBA], who have since been stripped of their rights to host Olympic boxing, prevented Khelif from competing in her gold medal match at the World Championships after she failed an unspecified gender eligibility test.
IBA president Umar Kremlev stated at the time that the tests showed the pair possessed ‘XY chromosomes, so were removed from competing’.
But the duo were allowed to take part in the 2024 Paris Games, with Khelif caught up in a gender row after her opening fight against Carini.
Carini quit after just 46 seconds of her bout and fled the ring in tears, claiming the result was ‘unjust’ while refusing to shake her opponent’s hand.
The Italian later issued an apology for her actions, as Khelif became the centre of a global gender row and received a torrent of online abuse.
Despite coming under fire, the IOC doubled down on their inclusion to include the two fighters, insisting the IBA’s previous decision was not under their jurisdictions.
President Thomas Bach even held a press conference defending Khelif, insisting the torrent of abuse was unacceptable, and to stress that she was born and raised as female.
Khelif then took on Hungarian athlete Luca Anna Hamori in the quarter-final stage of the competition, dominating her comfortably to pick up a unanimous decision win.
She burst into tears at the final bell as the emotion of becoming the scapegoat of a wider gender row caught up with her as she bravely pleaded, ‘I’m a woman’.
The Algerian star then spoke out in an interview prior to her recent bout, insisting that the ‘bullying’ needed to stop after being overcome with emotion.
She said: “I send a message to all the people of the world to uphold the Olympic principles and the Olympic Charter, to refrain from bullying all athletes, because this has massive effects.
Khelif has already secured a first Olympic medal for Algeria in boxing since 2000Credit: Getty
“It can destroy people, it can kill people’s thoughts, spirit and mind. It can divide people.
“And because of that, I ask them to refrain from bullying. I am in contact with my family two days a week. I hope that they weren’t affected deeply.
“They are worried about me. God willing, this crisis will culminate in a gold medal, and that would be the best response.
The latest row has left the future of boxing at the Olympics in further doubt, with organisers currently expected to leave it from the roster of sport at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
The IBA were taken from governing the sport due to concerns over finance, judging and corruption, with the IOC assuming full regulation control of the amateur competition.
Khelif will now step into the ring in an Olympic final which will take place on Friday August 9, as she looks to complete her quest for a gold medal.