Imane Khelif wins third Olympic boxing match ahead of gold medal final days after gender controversy
Rhianna Benson
Featured Image Credit: Mehmet Murat Onel/Anadolu via Getty Images
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has won her boxing match against Thai opponent Janjaem Suwannapheng in the Olympic semi-final, following the judges' unanimous decision.
The 25-year-old's third victory follows her impressive win against Hungary's Anna Luca Hamori in the quarter finals on Saturday (3 Aug).
And now, the 66kg division star is through to the Olympic final due to take place later this week, where she'll face China's Wu Yu.
Advert
Khelif's most recent win also comes just a week after her first competitor Angela Carini threw in the towel just 46 seconds into the match, which subsequently sparked an intense global discussion at this year's sporting tournament.
Her Italian opponent, also 25, was seen bursting into tears on live television following her voluntary loss.
Carini later claimed she'd 'never been hit so hard' after being punched in the nose to such an extent during the first few seconds that spectators worried it may be broken.
After the referee raised the Khelif's arm in triumph, Carini could be heard yelling, 'It's not fair', exiting the stage whilst refusing to shake Khelif's hand - and she has since apologised to Khelif following their match.
In 2023, Khelif was reportedly disqualified from the World Championships for failing gender eligibility tests.
At the time, International Boxing Association (IBA) president Umar Kremlev also claimed that the unspecifed test reportedly showed Khelif to have XY chromosomes.
Taiwanese boxer Lin Yi-tung was also disqualified in 2023 for reportedly failing the same test - though both women have since been deemed eligible to compete in Paris by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and have since received the organisation's continued support.
Following her second victory against Hamori, Khelif made an emotional statement to the press, calling an end to the 'bullying' she and a number of other athletes had faced in recent weeks.
"I send a message to all the people of the world to uphold the Olympic principles and the Olympic Charter, to refrain from bullying all athletes, because this has effects, massive effects," she told SNTV.
"It can destroy people, it can kill people’s thoughts, spirit and mind. It can divide people. And because of that, I ask them to refrain from bullying."