Imane Khelif - boxer at centre of gender controversy row - secures place in women’s final at Paris Olympics
6 August 2024, 22:24 | Updated: 7 August 2024, 00:43
Imane Khalif has stormed to the final of the women's boxing at the Paris 2024 Olympics following a stunning victory over her Thai opponent this evening.
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The Algerian boxer celebrated following the defeating over Janjaem Suwannapheng of Team Thailand on Tuesday night.
The 25-year-old has been at the centre of a gender controversy row.
The welterweight is one of two boxers competing in Paris despite being disqualified from last year's World Championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA) after she was reported to have failed gender eligibility tests.
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Khelif will fight Taiwanese Chen Nien-chin or Liu Yang of China in the final.
Algeria has never won a boxing gold medal.
Having avoided the huge media scrum after her previous bouts, Khelif broke her silence to maintain: "I don't care what anyone is saying about me with the controversy.
"All that is important to me is that I stay on the level and give my people the performance they deserve.
"I know I'm a talented person and this is a gift to all Algerians."
