Algerian boxer Imane Khelif secured her place in the women’s 66kg quarterfinals on Thursday after her opponent forfeited the match just 46 minutes in.
Khelif was up against Italian boxer Angela Carini, who revealed that she chose to withdraw after experiencing what she described as the hardest punch of her career.
Khelif has faced criticism due to her previous classification as having XY chromosomes; she was barred from the IBA World Championships last year for not complying with gender criteria.
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Imane Khelif of Algeria, right, and Angela Carini of Italy are pictured after their fight on Aug. 1, 2024, in Paris. (Reuters/Isabel Infantes)
Khelif’s next opponent will be Anna Luca Hamori from Hungary on Saturday. Notably, Hamori is the first Hungarian female boxer to participate in the Olympics, as reported by the New York Post.
Despite the ongoing controversy and what many consider to be a biological disadvantage, Hamori remains unfazed.
“I’m not scared. I don’t care about the press stories or social media,” she stated to reporters, according to the Post. “If she or he is a man, it will be an even greater victory for me if I win.”
Though Hamori and Khelif have not sparred together, they have previously competed in the same tournament. Hamori has expressed that she is not focusing on the surrounding controversy as it distracts from her goal of winning gold.
“I’m trying to avoid using my phone before the fight,” Hamori mentioned. “I want to disregard the comments, the stories, or the news. My priority is to concentrate on myself. I managed to do this in my last two fights, so I believe that’s essential, and we will see how it turns out.”
Anna Luca Hamori of Team Hungary celebrates her victory against Grainne Walsh of Team Ireland during the Paris Olympic Games on July 28, 2024. (Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
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Hamori also expressed her confusion regarding Carini’s decision to withdraw from her match with Khelif.
“That was her choice,” Hamori said. “I can’t comprehend, as I thought every boxer’s mentality was akin to mine—never to give up. But that was her decision. We’re unaware of her reasoning. It’s her life, but I know I have a different path to pursue.”
Khelif rejoiced in her victory, while Carini was left visibly upset. After the bout, Carini was heard expressing to her coaches in Italian her concerns over the bout’s fairness.
“I entered the ring to compete,” she commented, according to Italy’s ANSA. “I didn’t surrender, but one punch was simply too painful, so I decided to step back. I leave with my head held high.”
The International Boxing Association noted that both Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-Ting did not satisfy gender eligibility criteria during the 2023 championships.
IBA President Umar Kremlev clarified the decision at that time, as reported by Russia’s Tass News Agency. Reuters indicated that Khelif and Lin had tested positive for elevated testosterone levels. Kremlev also stated that “they have XY chromosomes.”
Adding to the controversy, the IBA stated Wednesday that Khelif possessed “competitive advantages over other female competitors.”
In response, Khelif and the Algerian Olympic Committee have denied claims regarding her XY chromosomes.
Algeria’s Imane Khelif, right, triumphed over Italy’s Angela Carini in their match during the Summer Olympics in Paris on Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/John Locher)
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The International Olympic Committee also authorized Khelif’s participation in the Summer Games, defending her in a statement on Thursday: “These two athletes were subjected to a sudden and arbitrary ruling by the IBA. Toward the conclusion of the IBA World Championships in 2023, they were abruptly disqualified without due process.”
Fox News’ Ryan Gaydos and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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