Controversial Olympian Imane Khelif has secured a medal by defeating Hungarian Anna Luca Hamori in the women’s 66kg quarter-final.
Khelif advanced to the final eight when her previous opponent, Angela Carini, withdrew from their round of 16 match just 46 seconds in. Carini commented that she had never been hit so hard before, which ignited a controversy and sparked debates over gender eligibility.
Last year, Khelif was disqualified from the Women’s World Championships for not meeting the eligibility requirements. The International Olympic Committee disqualified her after she failed a testosterone test.
However, she was allowed to compete in the Olympics, with IOC President Thomas Bach supporting her participation, stating, “We are discussing women’s boxing.”
“We have two boxers who were born as women, raised as women, hold passports identifying them as women, and have competed for many years as women. This is the clear definition of a woman.”
Backed by enthusiastic Algerian fans in the crowded North Paris Arena, Khelif repaid their support with a decisive victory over Hamori.
From the start, she displayed her strength, effectively using her jab to score points and keep Hamori at a distance. However, she received a points deduction after one of her punches hit Hamori on the back of the head.
Hamori ended the first round strongly with a solid hit, and the intense exchange continued into the second round, with both fighters acknowledging each other at the bell.
Khelif maintained control, with all five judges awarding her the first two rounds unanimously.
In the third and final round, the contest became more physical, with both fighters ending up on the mat multiple times as the match resembled a wrestling bout.
While Hamori took control of the ring’s center later in the fight, Khelif dominated the exchanges.
In tears, Khelif shouted, “I am a woman,” as she left the ring after being declared the winner. She will next face Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng on Tuesday evening for a chance at the finals.
In defeat, Hamori demonstrated sportsmanship by hugging her opponent and offering words of congratulations.
Despite the surrounding controversies, Hamori remained calm before the match, stating she was undaunted and indifferent to the press and social media narratives.
Hamori expressed, “I’m not scared. The story in the press and on social media doesn’t bother me. If the opponent is a man, defeating them would be an even greater victory for me.”
However, she caused further controversy by reposting an image on social media that labeled Khelif as a man.
She also shared a humorous image depicting a small female boxer squaring off against a muscular giant in boxing gloves.
The Algerian Olympic Committee responded by filing a formal complaint with the IOC against Hamori.
The statement from the committee announced, “The Algerian Olympic and Sports Committees have informed both national and international publics following our official complaint to the IOC regarding serious breaches of sports ethics and the Olympic Charter by one of the boxing competitors.”
“Regarding the violation and serious violation of sport ethics and affecting the Olympic Charter, in the person of our champion Imane Khelif, by one of the participants in the boxing tournament for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
“The International Olympic Committee has issued a final apology to violators with an order to delete every post concerning our heroine Imane Khelif.
“We reserve the right to prosecute everyone who participated in the heinous campaign against our heroine Imane Khelif. Good luck to our heroine and long live Algeria.”
“The MOB is continuously examining the means it can use to protect Hamori’s rights to fair competition under the rules in force.”
“The MOB president has initiated immediate consultations with the IOC Director of Sport to clarify the situation.”
