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Olympic boxing champion Imani Khelif said she had won the hearts of Algerian women’s boxing as the country’s Paris Olympics medallists received a hero’s welcome at Algiers airport on Monday.
Khalif was at the center of a gender controversy at this Olympics as she competed for the women’s 66kg title, while junior gymnastics gold medalist Kaylia Nemour and men’s 800m bronze medalist Djamel Sedjati showed off their medals to waiting fans.
The crowd cheered Khalif by chanting “Tahiyya Imani” (Long Live Imani).
“The answer is in the results of each match,” she said. “I want to show the strength and style of women, especially Algerian women.”
The International Olympic Committee took over boxing in Paris after losing patience with the International Boxing Association.
The International Boxing Federation, led by Kremlin-linked oligarch Umar Keremlev, hit back during the Olympics, saying it disqualified Khalif and Taiwanese fighter Lin Yu-ting from world championships last year because test results showed “they were male.” The AIBA had allowed both boxers to compete in Tokyo three years ago.
Khalif, 25, gave what she called a “relentless struggle” speech on Monday.
She said she wanted to “thank the Algerian people who have supported me and given me strength during this ordeal.”
“Algerian women are role models and examples for the whole world,” the boxer said. “Thank God, we restored the honour of Algeria and flew the Algerian flag in Paris, and that is the most important thing.”
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