Gender row in Paris Olympics: Algerian boxer Imane Khelif opens up after winning historic gold

Despite facing intense scrutiny over a gender controversy in the ongoing Paris Olympics, Algerian boxer Imane Khelif managed to win gold medal.

The 24-year-old boxer put up a dominating display to get the better of Yang Liu of China with 5:0 score in the women’s welterweight division.

Responding to the development, Khelif said, “For eight years, this has been my dream, and I am now the Olympic Champion and gold medalist. I want to thank all the Algerian people here in Paris, around the world and in Algeria. All the people from Algeria and all the people at my base. I want to thank all the team, my coach. Thank you so much. Algeria is very happy today.”

“We are in the Olympics to perform as athletes, and I hope that we will not see any similar attacks in future Olympics. I am fully qualified to participate in this competition. I am a woman like any other woman. I was born as a woman, I live as a woman, and I am qualified,” she further said.

“I am a woman like any woman. I was born a woman, and I have lived as a woman, but there are enemies to success, and they can’t digest my success,” she added.

Notably, the International Boxing Association (IBA) disqualified Khelif due to a failed gender eligibility test in 2023. However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) dismissed these tests as baseless, allowing her to compete in the Olympics.