Imane Khelif’s celebration says it all after advancing to gold medal fight

Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has continued her dominant run in Paris despite her name continually being thrust into the spotlight.

Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has advanced into the gold medal fight after comfortably taking care of Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng.

The eyes of the world remain on the fighter who has been at the centre of a gender controversy in Paris.

On Wednesday (AEST) she put all of that behind her as she dismantled her latest opponent in a one-sided bout.

Her dominance came out in the third and final round when Suwannapheng was given a standing eight count after catching some heavy blows.

Suwannapheng looked perplexed at how to solve the puzzle as she failed to land any telling blows throughout the bout.

After claiming the unanimous points decision, Khelif waved one finger in the air before dancing around the ring with an emphatic celebration.

Following her win Khelif addressed the media and delivered a defiant message as the controversy continued to swirl.

“I don’t care about the criticism. I am here for the competition,” she said.

“God willing, we will be at the final level and I will present my talent. Because I consider myself talented and I really am talented. I will do my best to provide you with an enjoyable viewing around the world. Thank you.”

Khelif has danced her way into the gold medal bout. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

Khelif’s outpouring of emotion is something not seen out of Khelif throughout the Games and comes on the back of the International Boxing Association calling on the IOC for her to be banned during a chaotic press conference on Monday.

The press conference comes with the Games being shrouded in controversy with endless negative headlines surrounding Khelif.

Now with victory on Wednesday she’s assured those headlines will continue to hover over the IOC and the Paris Olympics for the remainder of the competition.

The backlash has come in thick and fast, with the IOC coming under fire from competing women’s boxers for allowing Khelif to compete.

Now that Khelif has guaranteed herself a medal, The IOC’s “worst nightmare” has officially been confirmed according to News Corp journalist Pete Badel, who’s been covering the story from Paris.

“IOC’s worst nightmare has arrived. Intersex boxer Imane Khelif is into the final and will fight for gold. Hasn’t lost a round in this tournament,” Badel wrote.

The most famous intersex athlete, Caster Semenya, took aim at the organisation for its handling of the saga and blamed the outpouring of backlash squarely on their shoulders.

“They (IOC) should stand their ground and lead by example,” Semenya said. “It’s about quality leadership that safeguards, protects, and respects women.

“The minute they allowed women to be disgraced, it confuses us.”

Khelif has not lost a round in Paris. (Photo by MOHD RASFAN / AFP)

While a war of words between the IBA and IOC continues to unfold, support for Khelif has flooded in from all corners of the world.

As she walked out onto Roland Garros’ Court Phillipe Chatrier the cheers grew from the opening bell right through until her dancing celebrations as Algerian flags waved proudly in the stands.

Cries of “Imane, Imane” rang out repeatedly before and during the bout.

Fans watching the fight unfold were quick to throw their support behind Khelif with many blasting the haters in their attempts to bring her down.

Algeria FC posted on X after the bout: “Imane Khelif leaving the Twitter endocrinologists in shambles tonight.”

Another account wrote: “Eat it haters. Imane Khelif is guaranteed an Olympic medal!”

The gender controversy ignited when Khelif defeated Angela Carini in 46 seconds in her opening bout in the French capital, the Italian was reduced to tears and abandoned the fight after suffering a badly hurt nose.

The IOC has leapt to the defence of Khelif and Lin amid the backlash, with president Thomas Bach saying they were born and raised as women, and have passports saying that.

In a show of force, the Algerian Olympic and Sports Committee took aim at the IBA on Tuesday as they backed in their fighter.

“Algeria is not a member of the IBA,” the statement read.

“We do not recognise the IBA as a legitimate institution, and it has no connection with the Olympic Games.

“Our champion, Imane Khelif, remains untouched and undeterred by the baseless claims of the IBA.”

Khelif will take on China’s Yang Liu in the gold medal fight which gets underway from 6:50am on Saturday, August 10 (AEST).

Originally published as Imane Khelif’s celebration says it all after advancing to gold medal fight