Algerian boxer Imane Khelif qualified for the semi-finals of the 66 kg boxing competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics following a victory over Hungarian Anna Luca Hamori.
The victory came with a 5-0 score in the quarter-final match by unanimous decision, guaranteeing Algeria its first Olympic medal at the Paris Games.
Unlike other sports, the fourth-place finisher in boxing wins a bronze medal, which means that even if Khelif loses her next two fights, she will still win bronze in any case.
Iman will face Thailand’s Janjira Swanavij in the semi-finals next Tuesday, and a win will mean she will win gold or silver, while a loss will confirm the bronze.
With this, Khelif has become the third Arab athlete to win a medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, after Tunisian Faris Ferjani’s silver in fencing and Egyptian Mohamed El Sayed’s bronze in fencing.
It is worth mentioning that Iman Khelif suffered from an attack by her former Italian opponent Angela Carini, who accused her of not being female before she came out and apologized for her actions.
Khelif spoke after winning in the quarter-finals about her crisis and what she recently suffered, saying, “This is a matter of dignity and honor that affects every woman, and the Arab people have known me for years. I compete with the international federation that wronged me, but this is up to God, God is greater.”
