Algerian Imane Khelif is under fire from critics in the under 66 kg category. This Thursday, August 1, she faced Italian Angela Carini for a quarter-final qualification.
As much supported as criticized, Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, 25, qualified this Thursday, August 1st for the quarter-finals of the Olympic tournament, in the under 66 kg category. She dominated an Italian opponent, Angela Carini, who finished the fight in tears. The latter, after receiving several hard blows, chose to give up.
Imane Khelif’s participation in the Paris Olympic Games tournament (July 26-August 11) is under fire from critics. Indeed, the athlete was recently excluded from the World Championships in the discipline, after failing to meet an eligibility test for participation in the women’s category.
Angela Carini (blue, female) abandons fight against Imane Khelif (red, male) a few minutes into fight /1 pic.twitter.com/yOIvZkDaow
— FairPlayForWomen (@fairplaywomen) August 1, 2024
This Thursday’s fight was marked by high tensions. Particularly at the very end, when the referee raised the Algerian’s arm, sealing her victory. Her opponent, in tears, refused to shake her hand.
Algeria‘s biological man Imane Khelif has beat Italy’s Angela Carini after only 45 sec in 66 kg boxing preliminaries at the #Olympics.
What a disgrace!
What about the rights of biological female athletes?
Where are all the feminists when you need them?pic.twitter.com/KOV9rLKZ2K— Velina Tchakarova (@vtchakarova) August 1, 2024
On social networks, the images are relayed by users who are against Imane Khelif’s participation in the Olympic tournament.
Aware of the controversy, the International Olympic Committee supported the boxer on Tuesday, July 30, adding that it was “established” that she was “a woman”. “All female competitors who participate in the Olympic Games follow and respect the eligibility rules,” explained Mark Adams, IOC spokesperson.
Asked after her fight, Angela Carini brushed aside any controversy. “I’m not one to judge or take a position,” she said. “If this girl is there, it’s because there’s a reason. I got in the ring despite the controversy. I took a blow to the nose that hurt a lot, I didn’t want to continue. […] I was here to win the Olympics. But if I gave up, it was for my family.”
