Algerian boxer Imane Khelif wins Olympic gold

Imane Khelif's victory in the Olympic Games marks a significant milestone not only for her personal career but also for Algerian sports as a whole. The achievement of winning a gold medal in boxing highlights the increasing prominence of female athletes in traditionally male-dominated sports. Khelif’s success serves as an inspiration to young athletes, particularly women, who aspire to break barriers and achieve excellence in their respective fields. Her journey exemplifies resilience, dedication, and the relentless pursuit of dreams against formidable odds.

Khelif's triumph can be attributed to her rigorous training regime and unwavering commitment to her craft. Throughout her preparation for the Olympics, she faced numerous challenges, including limited resources and infrastructural support common in many developing nations. Nevertheless, Khelif remained focused on her goals, demonstrating that passion and perseverance can yield remarkable results. Her achievement not only brings pride to Algeria but also raises awareness about the potential of women in sports within a cultural context that often underestimates their capabilities.

In the first round, both fighters started off tentatively, but Khelif got the better of her southpaw opponent, taking the round in unanimous fashion.

It was more of the same in the second round as a stiff punch from the Algerian sent Yang bouncing off the ropes in the opening seconds. With the pro-Khelif crowd chanting wildly, she punished her opponent with a barrage of punches on her way to another victorious round on all the judges’ scorecards.

With a huge lead on the scorecards, Khelif continued to apply the pressure to Yang in the third and final round. The Chinese fighter continued pressing forward, but could not break through Khelif’s defense.

Three days after the Algerian diaspora in France had rallied around Khelif in her semi-final battle, making their support clear after a difficult two weeks, they returned late on Friday even louder. After the first three finals of the night had finished, the 15,000-strong crowd came alive at the first mention of Khelif’s name. Chants of “Imane! Imane!” echoed around the stadium.

“My honour is intact now,” Khelif said. “But the attacks that I heard in social media were extremely bad and they are meaningless and they impact the dignity of people and I think that now people’s thinking has changed.

Khelif has never done as well in another international tournament as she did in these Olympics. When she was cast as some sort of unstoppable punching machine last week by pundits and provocateurs who had never seen her fight before, opponents and teammates who knew her were shocked by the characterization.

Then she lived up to the notion of being one of the best Olympic boxers in the world.

Lin fights for a gold medal Saturday on the final card of the Olympics. She takes on Julia Szeremeta of Poland with a chance to win Taiwan's first boxing gold.

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Sarah H

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