Imane Khelif BEATS Anna Luca Hamori via unanimous decision despite being docked a point for holding as gender row boxer guarantees Olympic medal
Gender row boxer Imane Khelif guaranteed herself a medal before declaring ‘I am a woman’.
The Algerian welterweight, one of two athletes at the centre of an Olympics storm, scored a unanimous victory against Hungary’s Luca Anna Hamori to secure a place in the Paris 2024 semi-finals.
Khelif was banned from last year’s World Championships by the Russian-led International Boxing Association after they claimed she failed a gender test but has been cleared to fight in France by Games bosses.
The 25-year-old’s first fight lasted just 46 seconds when Italy’s Angela Carini quit in tears saying she feared for her life.
This time, the tears were Khelif’s after a dominant performance which saw her cheered on by hundreds of noisy Algerians and later congratulated by the country’s president who said she had ‘honoured Algeria, Algerian women and Algerian boxing’.
Imane Khelif (pictured) beat Anna Luca Hamori via unanimous decision on Saturday
The Algerian cut an emotional figure after securing victory on Saturday afternoon in Paris
Khelif (left) was docked a point for holding in the third and final round of the bout
Khelif fans celebrate boxing win that puts her in the semi-finals
Aerial View of Old Town
The Algerian welterweight, one of two athletes at the centre of an Olympics storm, scored a unanimous victory against Hungary’s Luca Anna Hamori to secure a place in the Paris 2024 semi-finals.
Khelif was banned from last year’s World Championships by the Russian-led International Boxing Association after they claimed she failed a gender test but has been cleared to fight in France by Games bosses.
The 25-year-old’s first fight lasted just 46 seconds when Italy’s Angela Carini quit in tears saying she feared for her life.
This time, the tears were Khelif’s after a dominant performance which saw her cheered on by hundreds of noisy Algerians and later congratulated by the country’s president who said she had ‘honoured Algeria, Algerian women and Algerian boxing’.
Imane Khelif (pictured) beat Anna Luca Hamori via unanimous decision on Saturday
The Algerian cut an emotional figure after securing victory on Saturday afternoon in Paris
Khelif (left) was docked a point for holding in the third and final round of the bout
Khelif fans celebrate boxing win that puts her in the semi-finals
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Khelif shouted in Arabic, with Algerian reporters translating that she had said ‘I want to tell the entire world that I am a woman and I will remain a woman.’
As she headed to the dressing room. She later expressed her thanks to the IOC ‘who spoke the truth’. ‘Thanks to God this is the first women’s medal for boxing in Algeria,’ Khelif added. ‘I can say to the Algerian people that I won a medal for Algeria and Arabs.’
Khelif will meet Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng, in the semi-final on Tuesday. Should she win, she will fight for gold on Friday.
Hamori had branded the fight unfair in the build-up and had reposted a picture on social media that depicted a female boxer facing up to a horned beast in the ring.
However, she shared an embrace with Khelif and wished her luck for the future.
After sealing victory on Saturday, the 25-year-old Algerian cut an emotional figure as she stepped out of the ring, having faced criticism this week following her bout against Italian Angela Carini.
Khelif could be seen growing in confidence throughout the round of 16 clash as the fans inside the North Paris Arena chanted her name.
Hamori had her moments but struggled to find her distance, allowing Khelif to dominate from the opening round – with one judge scoring the bout 10-8 in the Algerian’s favour.
Khelif is seen shouting in the ring during her controversial clash with Italian Carini
After the Algerian’s (left) victory was announced, both fighters embraced inside the ring
