Imane Khelif secured Olympic gold in women’s boxing just a year after being disqualified from the World Championships due to an alleged failure in a gender eligibility test.
In the midst of a controversy that has cast a shadow over the boxing events in Paris, the Algerian fighter triumphed over Chinese world champion Yang Liu by unanimous decision in the welterweight division.
The 25-year-old was met with thunderous applause from Algerian supporters, who proudly waved their green, white, and red flags as she entered the ring. Khelif dominated the match, showcasing her skill with confidence.
As the final bell rang, she was already celebrating, dancing in anticipation of her victory. After the match, the two boxers shared a heartfelt embrace.
When the victory was officially announced, Yang graciously raised Khelif’s arm in triumph— a stark contrast to the tension following Khelif’s opening match against Italy’s Angela Carini. Khelif was then carried triumphantly around the arena on her coach’s shoulders, with the crowd in jubilation.
Lin Yu-ting, another boxer banned last year under the same gender eligibility ruling, is set to compete in her final on Saturday. However, Khelif’s extraordinary and controversial Olympic journey culminated with her standing atop the podium.
She was warmly applauded by all three of her fellow medallists, with tears in her eyes as the Algerian anthem echoed through the arena.
