Algerian boxer Imane Khelif is set to compete for an Olympic gold medal on Tuesday night in the boxing semifinals at the Paris Olympics. Khelif will face off against Janjaem Suwannapheng of Thailand at Roland Garros, the renowned tennis complex in Paris. The victor of this match will progress to the women's 66-kilogram finals scheduled for Friday night.
Khelif, a seasoned two-time Olympian, has already secured her first Olympic medal, marking Algeria's inaugural medal in women's boxing. To claim Algeria's second boxing gold medal, following Hocine Soltani in 1996, Khelif must secure two more victories.
Despite comfortably winning her initial two fights in Paris, Khelif found herself at the center of a global debate surrounding gender identity and sports regulations after her first opponent, Angela Carini of Italy, withdrew from the fight after just 46 seconds, citing pain from Khelif's punches.
Following Carini's withdrawal, various public figures, including former U.S. President Donald Trump and author J.K. Rowling, falsely alleged that Khelif was either a man or transgender. In response, Khelif expressed that the unwarranted scrutiny she is facing is detrimental to human dignity and called for an end to the bullying of athletes.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and its president, Thomas Bach, have consistently supported Khelif's Olympic eligibility, along with fellow boxer Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan. Both Khelif and Lin were disqualified by the International Boxing Association during last year's world championships due to purported failed eligibility tests for the women's competition.
Khelif's fellow boxer, Lin, has also secured a medal and advanced to the Olympic semifinals. Lin is scheduled to compete against Esra Yildiz Kahraman of Turkey in the first bout on Wednesday night at Roland Garros. Notably, Olympic boxing does not feature bronze-medal matches, with the losers of the semifinal bouts automatically receiving bronze medals.
For more updates on the Paris Olympics, visit the AP Olympics page.
