Sports
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.
British tennis player Jack Draper has secured a spot in the Japan Open last 16 after defeating Italy’s Mattia Bellucci in straight sets. Draper, ranked world number 20, claimed a 6-4, 6-2 victory, marking his first win since his US Open semi-final loss to Jannik Sinner earlier this month.
The 22-year-old’s triumph in Tokyo comes as a welcome return to form following a challenging Davis Cup in Manchester, where he lost both of his singles matches to Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo and Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime, contributing to Great Britain’s failure to reach the knockout stages.
After a tightly contested first set against world number 103 Bellucci, Draper dominated the second set, building a 5-1 lead before closing out the match. He will face Polish second seed Hubert Hurkacz in the next round on Friday.
Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Yerson Mosquera is expected to miss the remainder of the season following a serious knee injury sustained in Wolves’ 3-1 loss to Aston Villa. The 23-year-old Colombian twisted his knee after a collision with Villa’s Morgan Rogers in the 82nd minute and was stretchered off the pitch.
Scans confirmed that Mosquera suffered damage to both the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which will require surgery. Wolves’ head of high performance, Phil Hayward, said, “We will be visiting specialists to finalise the plan for surgery, and it’s highly unlikely he will feature again this season.”
Mosquera had been a key part of Wolves’ defense this season, starting all five Premier League games after returning from a loan spell at Villarreal. His absence further deepens Wolves’ defensive issues, as they did not secure a replacement for Max Kilman following his £40m move to West Ham.
Wolves, currently winless and sitting at the bottom of the Premier League, face Liverpool at home in their next match.
Raphael Varane, former defender for Real Madrid, Manchester United, and the French national team, has retired from professional football at the age of 31. Varane, who joined Italian side Como in July, sustained a knee injury on his debut, prompting his decision to step away from playing. He will remain at Como in a non-playing capacity.
In an emotional Instagram post, Varane wrote, “It takes a big dose of courage to listen to your heart and your instinct,” explaining his desire to leave the sport on his own terms.
Varane began his career at Lens before a decade-long stint at Real Madrid, where he won 18 major trophies, including three La Liga titles and four Champions League crowns. He later joined Manchester United in 2021, making 95 appearances and winning the Carabao Cup in 2022.
Internationally, Varane earned 93 caps for France, winning the 2018 World Cup and the 2021 Nations League. Reflecting on his career, Varane expressed pride in both his achievements and staying true to his values.
He hinted at future projects with Como, adding, “Something I am looking forward to sharing more about soon.” Varane has also been vocal about the dangers of head injuries in football, having played through concussions during his career, and he has called for better protection for players.
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