Algeria’s Imane Khelif triumphed over China’s Yang Liu in the Olympic welterweight final at Paris 2024, securing her gold medal by unanimous decision. Khelif’s journey through the tournament was marked by significant controversy regarding her eligibility to compete.
Despite facing intense scrutiny and pressure from the global media, Khelif established a commanding lead in the first two rounds of the 66kg final, ultimately clinching victory.
“I’m very happy for this gold medal,” Khelif said. “This is the first gold medal for Africa and the Arab world for a woman in boxing. I want to thank everyone. This is my dream, and now I am very happy.”
Both Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting met the IOC’s eligibility criteria despite having been disqualified from the World Championships in 2023 by the International Boxing Association (IBA), which ruled them ineligible for women’s categories. The specifics of the eligibility tests remain unspecified, raising numerous questions about the IBA’s credibility, especially as the IOC banned the organization from running the Olympic boxing tournament due to concerns over corruption and financial transparency.
Throughout the tournament, Khelif endured vicious abuse, particularly on social media, prompting the IOC to condemn the harassment. She has since called for an end to the bullying, stating, “It can destroy people.” Nonetheless, in the ring, Khelif received a warm welcome from an electric crowd packed with enthusiastic Algerian supporters waving their national flags.
During the match, Yang employed her southpaw stance and combinations to land punches, but Khelif’s power pushed her opponent back. Khelif’s aggressive style put her in control, leading to a strong performance that helped her sweep all the rounds for all five judges.
After the unanimous decision was announced, Khelif was hoisted onto her coach’s shoulders as they celebrated together, marking the end of an extraordinary tournament for the rising star. Khelif’s victory not only signifies a personal achievement but also represents a historic moment for women’s boxing in her region.
Credit: Sky Sports
