Imane Khelif makes history amid gender dispute

PARIS: Algeria’s Imane Khelif made a powerful statement both in the ring and outside it by claiming the welterweight gold medal at the Paris Olympics. The 25-year-old boxer, who had been thrust into the center of a gender dispute alongside Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, delivered a stunning performance to defeat China’s Yang Liu by unanimous decision on Friday.

Khelif’s victory not only secured her place as the first Algerian woman to win an Olympic boxing title but also marked the country’s first boxing gold since Hocine Soltani’s triumph at Atlanta 1996. Her success comes after years of relentless dedication, as Khelif emphasized in her post-fight interview: “Eight years, my dream. I’m Olympic champion, gold medallist. I’m very happy.”

The gender dispute involving Khelif and Lin had captured headlines and sparked widespread debate on social media, but Khelif’s achievement transcended the controversy, earning her admiration and support from fans in Algeria and beyond. Women’s boxing, introduced to the Olympics in 2012, has gained significant attention, and Khelif’s gold medal adds a new chapter to its history.(Reuters)