Khelif beat China’s Yang Liu to win gold in the women’s 66kg event.
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif defied a major gender controversy to win gold at the Paris Olympics on Friday in front of a pulsating Roland Garros crowd that roared her to victory.
Khelif claimed a unanimous points decision win over China’s Yang Liu in the women’s 66kg final and was paraded around the arena on a team member’s shoulders.
Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, who together with Khelif, was disqualified from last year’s world championships after failing gender eligibility testing, fights in the women’s 57kg final on Saturday.
« I’m very happy. For eight years this has been my dream and I’m now the Olympic champion and gold medallist », said Khelif, 25.
« I’ve worked for eight years, no sleep, eight years tired. Now I’m Olympic champion. »
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There were large numbers of Algerian fans at the 15,000-seat Court Philippe Chatrier, usually home to Grand Slam tennis but instead there to witness one of the most controversial athletes at the Games.
