After nearly 48 hours of being at the center of speculation, threats of protest and anti-trans rancor even though she isn’t trans, Algerian boxer Imane Khelif stepped in the ring in her 66k quarterfinal bout with Hungary’s Anna Luca Hámori Saturday.
Khelif emerged through the stress to write a satisfying new chapter in what has been a difficult tale. She won a unanimous decision over Hámori to put her into a semifinal bout with Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng, an upset winner over defending Olympic champion Busenaz Surmeneli of Turkey. Khelif is guaranteed to bring a medal back to Algeria because of the win.
The pre-fight introductions crackled with tension. A sizeable crowd of fellow Algerians (France has a large population with Algerian roots) sporting national colors and flags cheered in North Paris Arena as Khelif entered the ring.
The Khelif partisans booed lustily when Hámori was introduced. The barbs were a reaction to the rude treatment Khelif received in many circles since her round of 16 bout Thursday that saw Italy’s Angela Carini abandon the fight after 46 seconds and then making certain remarks that seemed to question whether Khelif was a woman.
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Carini apologized Friday, but between the end of the bout and the apology a worldwide media firestorm ensued surrounding Khelif and Taiwan boxer Lin Yu-Ting. Both fighters were disqualified from last year’s International Boxing Assn. World Championship for allegedly failing a gender verification test of which there are no records of the test or the methodology from the governing body that was decertified by the IOC in 2019. Last year, the IOC stripped the IBA from its role is organizer of the Olympic boxing tournament.
The Algerian Olympic Committee lodged a formal complaint Friday citing disparaging comments on Hámori’s social media. The Hungarian Olympic Committee also lodged a complaint saying that Khelif should not be allowed to fight.
The fight saw Khelif use a reach advantage to establish her jab. Hámori, who tends to want to press with a fast, flashy style, was forced into a defensive posture. She kept out of range of Khelif’s power punches in the first and second round, but got caught enough times by the Algerian’s formidable jab and counterpunches to fall behind on all judges’ cards.
The Hungarian fighter tried to press the action in the third round, but the Algerian’s savvy defense and counter controlled the bout. Despite losing a point for holding in Round 3, Khelif took the win and now is assured of winning at least a bronze, and maybe silver or gold depending on her results Sunday and in a potential gold medal final Monday at Stade Roland Garros.
Khelif left the ring flanked by her coaches with adoring cheers from the Algerian faithful who came out in support. As she took in the cheers, some small tears were forming. It seemed to be a release after all the stress since Thursday.
