[ad_1]
Imani Khalif said she won Olympic women’s boxing gold a year after being disqualified from the world championships and that “attacks” on her gender eligibility gave her victory a “special taste”.
The Algerian fighter was reportedly banned for failing a gender eligibility test but was cleared to compete in Paris and won welterweight gold by defeating Chinese world champion Liu Yang via unanimous decision in five rounds.
“I am fully qualified to participate in this competition. I am a woman like any other woman,” said Khalif, 25.
“I was born a woman. I live as a woman. I compete as a woman – there is no doubt about it.”
Khalif said she was a victim of “bullying” and that the International Boxing Association (IBA) “hated me and I really didn’t know why”.
In the arena, a large crowd of Algerian supporters waved green, white and red flags and cheered her as she took to the ring.
Khalif dominated the contest, showing off as she and Young embraced passionately after knowing she had won at the final bell.
When the result was confirmed, Young raised Khalif’s arms – a stark contrast to the scene after Khalif was knocked out. Opening Game against Angela Carini of Italy – Khalif was then carried on the shoulders of his coach and paraded around the jubilant stadium.
Lin Yuting, who was also banned last year due to the same ruling, will face Poland’s Julia Zeremeta in the featherweight final on Saturday.
Khalif was moved to tears as the Algerian national anthem was played and received a standing ovation from Lin and bronze medallists Chen Nien-jin of Chinese Taipei and Janjam Suwannapin of Thailand.
[ad_2]
Source link
