August 03, (THEWILL) – Algerian boxer, Imane Khelif, has guaranteed her country’s first Olympic boxing medal in 24 years after winning her welterweight quarter-final bout at the Paris 2024 Games. Khelif defeated Hungary’s Luca Anna Hamori by unanimous decision on Saturday.
The victory comes amid controversy surrounding Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting. Both athletes were disqualified from the 2023 World Championships in New Delhi for failing to meet the International Boxing Association’s (IBA) eligibility rules regarding male XY chromosomes in women’s events.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC), is organising the boxing tournament in Paris after stripping the IBA of recognition in 2023 due to governance and finance issues. The IOC has stated that Khelif and Lin have the right to compete in the Olympics.
Khelif, who won silver at the 2022 World Championships, will now advance to the semi-finals. Her success marked a significant moment for Algerian boxing, with the nation’s last Olympic medal in the sport coming at the Sydney 2000 Games.
The gender eligibility debate has dominated headlines and social media discussions in recent days, highlighting the complex issues surrounding fairness and inclusion in women’s sports.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
