Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, caught in the eye of the storm at the Paris Games, celebrated the Olympic gold.
Matti Lehtisaari,
STT Sports
Paris Olympics on channels 26.7.–11.8. Go to the competition website here. You can find the entire program of the games here.
Algerian boxer Imane Khelifin won the women’s 66-kilogram Olympic gold medal in boxing caused a stir, but in her hometown, Biban Mesbah, which has about 6,000 inhabitants, the jubilation was at its highest.
– This is a victory for all of Algeria, the father of the Olympic hero Omar Khelif told reporters.
Imane Khelif defeated China late on Friday night in the final match Yang Liu. All five judges declared the victory for Khelif.
Controversy arose over whether Khelif has the right to compete in the women’s series. She is one of two boxers competing in the women’s division at the Paris Olympics, who were banned from last year’s World Championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA). According to IBA, Khelif and Taiwan Lin Yu-ting did not meet the conditions for participation in the women’s series.
The boxing tournament at the Paris Olympics is organized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which does not recognize the IBA as the sport’s international umbrella organization.
Khelif said after her win that the Olympic gold was the perfect response to the attacks and bullying she had received over the gender controversy.
– I am fully qualified to participate, I am a woman like everyone else. “I was born a woman, I’ve lived as a woman and competed as a woman,” she told reporters when asked about the eligibility controversy.
Khelif’s concentration was severely tested when he was involved in a brutal robbery in Paris.
– We are at the Olympics to perform as athletes. I hope we don’t see similar attacks in future Olympics. For eight years this has been my dream. Now I’m an Olympic champion and a gold medalist, Khelif says.
Talkoo spirit knocked out the heat
The Olympic gold was Khelif’s first medal at the Olympics. The 15,000-seat Philippe Chatrier stadium, which normally hosts tennis matches, had a large number of Algerian fans cheering on the 25-year-old Khelif.
In the small town of Biban Mesbah, residents had gathered to watch the match on a large video board. Even though it was 46 degrees, the residents had enough energy to organize drinks and food.
– We help each other. Someone brings couscous, another brings oil and vegetables, a mother of six Amina Saadi opened.
There was also enough of a party atmosphere in the capital, Algiers, where people shot off fireworks and honked their car horns.
President of Algeria Abdelmadjid Tebboune joined the revelers in the messaging service X.
– We are proud of you, Olympic winner Imane. Your victory today is a victory for all of Algeria and your gold medal is a gold medal for all of Algeria.