Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has a shot at Olympic gold after semifinal win
PARIS – Imane Khelif will be fighting for gold.
The Algerian boxer advanced to the finals of the women’s welterweight division Tuesday night with a victory over Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng at Roland-Garros Stadium.
It was Khelif's third victory in as many fights at the Paris Olympics, earning her a spot in the gold medal match Friday despite being dragged into a controversy over gender eligibility.
The story has been almost inescapable with reporters peppering the IOC with questions daily.
Khelif, 25, previously beat Thailand’s Suwannapheng, in the semifinals of the 2023 world championships. Soon after that bout, Khelif was disqualified for allegedly failing gender eligibility tests, according to the International Boxing Association (IBA), a discredited group that has no role in the Olympics.
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The IOC said Khelif and Taiwan's Lin Yu-Ting, another female boxer disqualified at the 2023 world championships, both met all criteria to participate in the women's competition. They also competed at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
Like Khelif, Lin has excelled here inside the ring. She won each of her two fights by unanimous decision and has advanced to the semifinals in the women’s featherweight division.
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On Wednesday night, Lin will face Turkey’s Esra Yildiz Kahraman with a chance to fight in the gold medal match.
In Olympic competition, bronze medals are awarded to the losing semifinalists in the tournament's single-elimination format.