Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has advanced to the semifinals of the 2024 Olympic Games in the Women’s Welterweight (66kg) category and is guaranteed at least a bronze medal win. Semifinalists in Olympic boxing are guaranteed at least a bronze medal.
This comes after Khelif scored a unanimous win over Hungarian Anna Luca Hamori on Saturday, August 3 with all five judges scoring the bout in favour of the 25 year old who is competing in her second Olympics but has courted serious controversy over her “gender eligibility” to compete in the event. (Click highlighted text to read full story)
Khelif breezed through the first two rounds but found it tough to find her rhythm as the bout turned into an overly physical matchup with Khelif getting deducted a point for holding but managed to see out the contest to match into the semis.
She will face Thai boxer Janjaem Suwannapheng in the semis on Tuesday, August 6 in the face of a major row between the International Boxing Association (IBA) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) over Khelif’s gender eligibility stemming from her high testosterone levels.
Her preliminary stage win over Italy’s Angela Carini lasted just 46 seconds.(Click highlighted text to read full story)
