It was a moment of triumph for Imane Khelif as she capped off an emotional and controversial Olympic boxing journey by clinching the gold medal at welterweight in Paris. The Algerian athlete faced off against China’s Liu Yang in the finals and emerged victorious with a unanimous decision.
Yang posed a tough challenge for Khelif, with her tall and rangy stature testing Khelif’s usual advantage in height. It took Khelif some time to adjust to Yang’s style in the first round, but once she did, she dominated the fight with relentless pressure and sharp counters.
After three rounds, Khelif secured the win on all five official scorecards, marking a significant highlight in her boxing career. Her victory also put an end to the impressive run of the Chinese women’s boxing team in the Paris games, which had already claimed two medals through excellent strategy and preparation.
Khelif had grabbed headlines earlier in the Olympics when she defeated Italy’s Angela Carini in just 46 seconds after Carini quit the fight. The incident sparked a debate on social media about her eligibility to compete, with some questioning her gender based on past controversies related to a “gender test” during the Women’s World Boxing Championships.
Moving forward, Khelif triumphed over Luca Anna Hamori and Janjaem Suwannapheng to reach the gold medal match. While these victories were less dramatic than the bout with Carini, Khelif showcased her skills with a strategic jab that controlled the fights and neutralized her opponents.
The IBA, which had faced scandals and controversy in the past, including allegations of fight fixing in the Rio Olympics, raised further questions about Khelif’s eligibility with cryptic statements about a “gender test.” Despite the lack of clarity, officials mentioned XY chromosomes and testosterone levels in a press conference, stirring more confusion around the issue.
In a poetic twist of fate, Yang was the opponent Khelif was supposed to face in the 2023 World Championships before being disqualified in the semis. The gold medal victory undoubtedly eased the disappointment Khelif had experienced when she failed to medal in the 2020 Olympics, completing her remarkable Olympic journey.
