Imane Khelif, one of the two boxers at the heart of a gender dispute at the Paris Olympics, vowed on Tuesday (August 6) to put the controversy behind her and make Algeria and the Arab world proud.
Khelif delivered a flawless performance against Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng to reach the final of the welterweight tournament in front of the massed Algerian fans at a repurposed Court Philippe Chatrier.
When Khelif was announced as winner, the crowd, waving Algerian flags and scarves, let out an ear-splitting roar.
“I don’t want to talk about the controversy,” Khelif told reporters.
Khelif, a silver medallist at the 2022 world championships, and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting have been in the spotlight at the Paris Games as part of a storm that has dominated headlines and been the subject of much discussion on social media platforms.
Khelif and Lin were disqualified by the International Boxing Association from the 2023 World Championships in New Delhi, with the body saying in a shambolic press conference on Monday that a sex chromosome test had ruled both of them ineligible.
Khelif and Lin are competing in the Olympics after the International Olympic Committee stripped the IBA of its status as the sport’s governing body in 2023 and took control of organising the boxing in Paris.
The IOC has rejected the results of the IBA-ordered tests as arbitrary and illegitimate, saying there was no reason to conduct them.
At these Games, the IOC is using boxing eligibility rules that were applied at the 2016 and 2021 Olympics which do not include gender testing.
Kellie Harrington beat Yang Wenlu of China by split decision in the final of the lightweight category at the Paris Olympics to retain her crown on Tuesday and become the first Irish boxer to win back-to-back gold medals.
After clinching victory, Harrington said she was hanging up her gloves.
“The last hurrah, I’m done. I’ve always said I want to retire a champion, that’s it,” Harrington told Irish national broadcaster RTE.
“It just gives hope to all these young kids, all these teenagers (pointing at the crowd). It gives hope to the people of Ireland but this one was for me.”
Brazil’s Beatriz Ferreira and Taiwan’s Wu Shih-yi claimed the two bronze medals on offer after losing their semi-final bouts against Harrington and Yang respectively.
Brazil reached the Olympic women’s football final as they claimed a stunning 4-2 win over world champions Spain in Marseille on Tuesday and will face the United States for the gold medal.
Playing their sixth Olympic semi, Brazil capitalised on a number of Spanish defensive mistakes to reach Saturday’s final at Parc des Princes where they will seek a maiden title against four-time champions U.S..
Brazil prevailed despite being without captain and all-time leading goalscorer Marta, who received a two-match ban after a red card in a 2-0 loss to Spain in their final group stage game.
They went ahead six minutes in after an attempted clearance by Spain keeper Cata Coll deflected off captain Irene Paredes into her own net.
The South Americans doubled their lead thanks to a Gabi Portilho effort following a superb pass from Yasmim in the final seconds of the first half.
Captain Adriana made it 3-0 with a close-range header after a fast counter attack in the 72nd minute before an own goal from Duda Sampaio reduced the deficit five minutes from time.
Brazil substitute Kerolin stole possession and found the net to seal the rout early in stoppage time before Spain’s Salma Paralluelo grabbed a consolation in the final minutes.
(Reuters)