Iman Khalif
The women’s boxing event at the Paris Olympics 2024 was mired in a lot of controversies. This controversy arose when Italian boxer Angela Carini and Algerian boxer Iman Khalif clashed in the pre-quarterfinals of the women’s welterweight category. It was alleged that a female boxer was pitted against a male boxer. Algerian boxer Iman Khalif has been in controversies regarding gender in the past as well. Iman Khalif was disqualified on the basis of gender a few hours before the gold medal match of the 2023 Boxing World Championship. But amidst all these controversies, she has managed to win the gold medal at the Olympics.
Won gold amid gender controversy
Algerian female boxer Iman Khalif won gold in the women’s 66 kg weight category. Iman won the gold medal in the final match against China’s Yang Liu. Iman Khalif also won the final one-sidedly. In the final played for the gold medal, Iman defeated China’s Yang Liu 5-0. Iman Khalif is the first Algerian female boxer to win a gold medal. Apart from her, only Hocine Soltani has won a gold medal for Algeria in the men’s category.
The journey to Paris Olympics has been very difficult for Iman Khalif. Throughout the Olympics, she was trolled by calling her a man. Despite all these things, Khalif kept focusing on her matches. After the victory, Khalif punched the air and took a victory lap with the Algerian flag and thanked everyone for their support. During this, she looked very emotional.
What did Iman Khalifa say after winning the gold medal?
Iman Khalif is 25 years old. Talking after the final match, the female boxer said, ‘It has been my dream for the last 8 years and now I am an Olympic champion and gold winner.’ Khalif, while answering the reporters’ question through a translator, said about the recent gender controversy that arose regarding her, ‘This success of mine gives me more relief after those attacks. We are present in the Olympics to perform as an athlete and I hope that in future we will not see such attacks in the Olympics.’
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