Khelif Triumphs in Olympic Boxing After Gender Eligibility Controversy

Imane Khelif’s victory in the Olympic women’s boxing welterweight final has a “special taste” after a tumultuous year of controversy surrounding her gender eligibility. The Algerian boxer, who was disqualified from the World Championships last year due to reported gender eligibility concerns, proved her critics wrong by defeating Chinese world champion Yang Liu in a unanimous decision over five rounds to claim the gold medal in Paris.

Khelif, 25, expressed her frustration with the accusations that have plagued her career, firmly stating, “I am fully qualified to take part in this competition. I am a woman like any other woman. I was born a woman. I have lived as a woman. I competed as a woman—there is no doubt about that.”

She described the ordeal as “bullying” and suggested that the International Boxing Association (IBA) holds an unfounded bias against her. Despite the challenges, Khelif was determined to prove herself on the world stage.

In the arena, Khelif was met with overwhelming support from Algerian fans, who proudly waved their green, white, and red flags. She dominated the bout, showcasing her confidence with a celebratory dance at the final bell, fully aware of her impending victory. Her opponent, Yang Liu, graciously raised Khelif’s arm in recognition of her triumph—a stark contrast to the contentious atmosphere following Khelif’s earlier match against Italy’s Angela Carini.

Khelif’s emotional journey reached its peak as she was carried around the arena on the shoulders of her coach, surrounded by jubilant supporters. As the Algerian national anthem played, Khelif was joined by Lin Yu-ting, who faced a similar disqualification last year, as well as bronze medallists Chen Nien-chin of Chinese Taipei and Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng, all applauding her remarkable achievement.