Welcome to another blog today we discussed “How Algeria boxer Imane Khelif wins first Olympic fight when opponent Angela Carini quits,Lets See”.The 25-year-old boxer entered the ring at North Paris Arena to enthusiastic cheers, but the abrupt end to the match left the audience puzzled. Italy’s coach, Emanuele Renzini, revealed that he had discussed the bout with Carini, offering her the chance to withdraw early. However, Carini was resolute in her determination to fight until the match’s initial moments.
Carini’s Heartfelt Reflection
“I am heartbroken because I am a fighter,” Carini shared. “My father taught me to be a warrior. I have always entered the ring with honor and served my country with loyalty. This time, I couldn’t do it because I couldn’t fight anymore, so I ended the match.”
Khelif’s Path to a Medal
Khelif has a chance to secure an Olympic medal if she wins her quarterfinal bout on Saturday against Anna Luca Hamori, Hungary’s first Olympic women’s boxer. Hamori, undeterred by the prospect of facing Khelif, dismissed any fears.
Hamori’s Unyielding Confidence
“I’m not scared,” said Hamori, who convincingly defeated Marissa Williamson Pohlman of Australia. “I don’t care about the press stories or social media.
Controversy Surrounding Khelif
Khelif’s passport identifies her as female. Despite never having sparred, Hamori and Khelif have competed in the same tournaments before. Hamori expressed her indifference to the controversy, stating it was merely a distraction from her pursuit of gold.
“I’m trying to avoid using my phone before the fight,” Hamori explained. “I don’t want to be bothered by comments, stories, or news. I just want to stay focused on myself. I’ve done it before my last two fights, so I think that’s the key, and we’ll see.”
Reactions to Carini’s Decision
Hamori could only shrug at Carini’s choice to withdraw. “It was her choice,” she said. “I don’t understand because I thought every boxer’s mindset was like mine, to never give up. But it was her choice. We don’t know the reason. It’s her life, but I know what I want to do in mine.”
Scrutiny on Khelif and Lin Yu‑ting
After years of competing in amateur tournaments worldwide, Khelif and Lin Yu‑ting of Taiwan have faced intense scrutiny for their participation in Paris. Lin, a former IBA world champion in 2018 and 2022, was stripped of a bronze medal last year due to unspecified eligibility requirements not being met in a biochemical test.
Lin’s campaign in Paris begins on Friday. She will face Sitora Turdibekova of Uzbekistan in her opening bout after receiving a first-round bye as the No. 1 seed in the 57-kilogram category, although Olympic seeding often doesn’t accurately reflect top medal contenders.
Response from the Algerian Olympic Committee
On Wednesday, the Algerian Olympic Committee issued a statement condemning what it described as “lies” and “unethical targeting and maligning of our esteemed athlete, Imane Khelif, with baseless propaganda from certain foreign media outlets.”
Meloni’s Criticism and IOC’s Defense
Meloni, visiting Italian athletes in the Olympic Village on Thursday, criticized the need for Carini to fight Khelif. She noted that since 2021, she has opposed allowing athletes with “genetically male” characteristics to compete against women.
“We must ensure that in our efforts to avoid discrimination, we’re not actually discriminating against women’s rights,” Meloni stated.
Khelif and Lin are both two-time Olympians, having competed in the Tokyo Games. Lin has been an elite amateur boxer for a decade, and Khelif for six years.
IOC’s Stance and Boxing Governance Issues
The IOC has consistently defended the boxers’ right to compete, emphasizing that Olympic boxing achieved gender parity for the first time this year, with 124 men and 124 women competing in Paris. The IOC made its eligibility decisions based on gender-related rules from the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Several sports have updated their gender rules over the past three years, including World Aquatics, World Athletics, and the International Cycling Union. The track body also tightened rules last year on athletes with differences in sex development.
The IOC oversees boxing in Paris due to the International Boxing Association’s (IBA) loss of Olympic status following years of governance issues, financial opacity, and numerous instances of corruption in judging and refereeing. The IBA, led by Russian president Umar Kremlev, brought in Russian state-owned Gazprom as its primary sponsor and relocated many of its operations to Russia.
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Emergence of World Boxing and IBA’s Response
Since then, more than three dozen members have left the IBA to form a new organization, World Boxing, which seeks recognition by the IOC as the sport’s governing body ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
The IBA has aggressively used the presence of the two boxers in Paris to criticize the IOC. Following the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s upholding of the IOC’s ban earlier this year, the IBA appealed to the Swiss Federal Tribunal in a last-ditch effort to overturn the IOC’s decision.
On Wednesday, the IBA released a statement claiming that neither boxer had undergone a “testosterone examination” last year but was “subject to a separate and recognized test” for their disqualification. The IBA stated that the test’s “specifics remain confidential,” refusing to elaborate.
The IBA disregarded IOC recommendations and allowed Russian fighters to compete at the 2023 World Championships under the Russian flag. The governing body only disqualified Khelif after she defeated Russian boxer Azalia Amineva during the tournament.
