PARIS (AP) — Algerian boxer Imane Khelif advanced to the gold-medal bout in the women’s welterweight division at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday night, moving one win away from what she calls the best response to the worldwide scrutiny she has faced over misconceptions about her gender.
With one more victory, Khelif would win Algeria’s second boxing gold medal and its first in women’s boxing.
Khelif defeated Janjaem Suwannapheng of Thailand 5:0 in the semifinals at Roland Garros, where the crowd roared for her and chanted her name repeatedly during her three-round fight.
Khelif has won three consecutive bouts in Paris, and she will win either a gold or a silver medal when she completes the tournament on Friday against Yang Liu of China.
Khelif has thrived inside the ring in Paris amid criticism and stigmatization outside of it. The trouble has stemmed from the Olympic-banished International Boxing Association’s decision to disqualify her and fellow Paris medalist Lin Yu-ting of Chinese Taipei from the world championships last year for allegedly failing an eligibility test.
“I don’t care about that,” Khelif said through an interpreter. “I wish to be ready and show a good standard, show my talent, because I want to entertain everyone.”
Khelif had already clinched Algeria’s first medal in women’s boxing before she stepped into the ring to rousing roars at Court Philippe Chatrier. She then controlled her bout with Suwannapheng, who took a standing 8-count late in the third after absorbing a series of punches.
“I had heard about the news regarding her, but I wasn’t following it closely,” Suwannapheng said. “She is a woman, but she is very strong.”
Khelif has won every round on every judge’s card in her two fights that have gone the distance in Paris. She has made the most important tournament run of her international career while under the most pressure she has ever faced.
“I am very happy,” Khelif said. “I’ve worked eight years for these Olympics, and I’m very proud of this moment. I would like to thank the support from people back home.”
The ending of Khelif’s first bout in Paris propelled her into the center of a worldwide divide over gender identity and safety regulations in sports. Her first opponent, Angela Carini of Italy, tearfully quit after just 46 seconds, saying she was in too much pain from Khelif’s punches.
Carini’s abandonment of the fight led to comments from the likes of former U.S. President Donald Trump, “Harry Potter” writer J.K. Rowling and others falsely claiming Khelif was a man or transgender. Carini later apologized for her decision.
In an interview Sunday with SNTV, a sports video partner of The Associated Press, Khelif said the wave of hateful scrutiny she is facing “harms human dignity” and called for an end to bullying athletes.
Khelif also said she felt the “best response” to the uproar around her would be to win a gold medal — and now she’s one win away.
After sharing a hug with Suwannapheng and holding open the ropes for her opponent in a traditional boxing gesture of sportsmanship, Khelif celebrated by running furiously in place while pumping her fists as the crowd roared for her again.
The celebration was more joyous than her cathartic finish to her quarterfinal victory over Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori, when she slammed her palm on the canvas as she teared up.
Khelif received her post-fight medical check and was headed out of the Roland Garros arena when she was mobbed by fans near the exit. They hugged Khelif, demanded selfies and waved Algerian flags while she made her way backstage.
Khelif received cheers that echoed through the famed tennis arena from the moment she entered to face Suwannapheng. Roland Garros welcomed a prominent turnout from Algerian fans voicing their national pride in a boxer whose negative spotlight has been taken quite personally in her country.
The two fighters came out aggressively, exchanging punches from a distance. Khelif showed better accuracy and dominated the first round on all scorecards, continuing her strong performance in the second round.
The third round saw the fight become more physical, with Suwannapheng pushing forward in an attempt to make a comeback.
The bout was briefly stopped for a standing 8-count late in the round when Suwannapheng took a few consecutive head punches, although she seemed unfazed by it, a common occurrence in Olympic boxing where referees can stop a fight for minor reasons.
Suwannapheng admitted, “I tried to use my speed, but my opponent was just too strong.”
Khelif, 25, has been having a successful run in her amateur career at the Olympics.
While she has performed well at the international level and won some regional tournaments, she has never been a dominant force on the world stage until her impressive performances in Paris.
The IOC and President Thomas Bach have supported the eligibility of Khelif and Lin while criticizing the IBA for being incompetent and biased.
Khelif and Lin were disqualified by the IBA during last year’s world championships due to alleged failed eligibility tests for the women’s competition. The IBA has been banned from the Olympics since before the Tokyo Games and has struggled to explain their decisions regarding Khelif and Lin.
Lin has also secured a medal and advanced to the Olympic semifinals, where she will face Esra Yildiz Kahraman of Turkey.
Algeria’s Olympic team has strongly defended Khelif amidst the criticism, with the support from fans in Roland Garros showing the seriousness with which the accusations have been taken in her home country and among the French diaspora.
Chinese Taipei has also condemned the IBA’s claims and the global attention surrounding the issue. Sports officials are considering legal action against the IBA for spreading false information and attempting to disrupt the normal conduct of the event, disregarding the rights and interests of the athletes.