Imane Khelif in TEARS after beating Hungarian boxer amidst brutal gender controversy at Paris Olympics

Imane Khelif qualifies for Paris Olympics 2024 semi-finals against Hungary's Anna Luca Hamori and breaks down in tears.

Imane Khelif in TEARS after beating Hungarian boxer amidst brutal gender controversy at Paris Olympics

Fighting brutal gender eligibility allegations, Imane Khelif wins against Anna Luca Hamori (Source: Instagram/X)

The controversy over Algerian boxer Imane Khelif’s eligibility for the Paris Olympics is still swirling. Khelif defeated Italy’s Angela Carini in a match that lasted less than a minute. Throughout the Paris Olympics 2024, she has been pinned for competing in the wrong category as she failed the gender eligibility test pools last year. However, the boxer proved her mettle against Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori.

Khelif had a lot riding on her going into the Women’s (—66kg) Quarter-finals live at 11:22 ET. When Carini sought out in just under 46 seconds, it sent a strong visual through the Paris Olympics spectrum. She scored 29 (X5) across the board. Meanwhile, Anna Luca Hamori had a 26 and four 27s on the judges’ scorecards. After the win, Khelif shed quite a passionate tear as she hugged her corner and left the ring.

YouTube video

This is a lot different than what has been going on in the boxing gender war. Angela Carini cried and apologized for not being able to fulfill her dreams. Luca Hamori rocked a whole other demeanor and said she is “not scared” of Khelif. Matter of fact, she went viral sharing an IG post of a cartoon monster with horns toe-to-toe with Carini. Amid the close scrutiny and gender eligibility innuendos, Khelif’s tears though are a mark of pride.

FS Video

The alleged trans boxer arguably has Differences Of Sexual Development (DSD), — but the IOC ad-hoc Boxing Unit rules identify that she has always been a ‘woman’ boxer. Imane Khelif won the 2022 African and Mediterranean Champ status and reached the IBA Women’s Championships before this. She has had a modest run and even faced losses. Low blows be damned, she now treads ahead on her own merit.

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Fans react to Imane Khelif winning against Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori

The International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) ad-hoc restrictions allowing for open interpretation of gender eligibility had been less than a boon. Even though she was born a woman, hormonal imbalances in eligibility test pools got Khelif DQed last year. A second Olympic boxer amid the boxing gender war, Lin Yu-Ting also emboldened the matter.

Imane Khelif; at Paris Olympics 2024
Imane Khelif; at Paris Olympics 2024 (Source: nypost.com/X)

Hours after Italy’s Angela Carini abandoned her fight after just 46 seconds, Hamori showed no signs of nerves as she spoke. She was unhinged that she’d win against a “man”. However, turns out the ferocity of Khelif’s punches is her resolve, not genetics. She won (5-0) easily against Anna Luca Hamori after an emotional two days. Here’s how fans have reacted to it:

https://twitter.com/Annapal999/status/1819772144152129672

Through the course of the Paris Olympics 2024, PFL star and 20-fight UFC vet Derek Brunson has maintained a comical streak of support on social media Irish boxer Amy Broadhurst – who already beat Khelif, shared pictures of them on Instagram. Concurrently, she denied that her punches tee off too strong or that she is a man.

Burlington’s Paris 2024 Olympics star Ilona Maher also dubbed down expectations and gender stereotypes that women cannot be buff. Subsequently, now more fans have voiced their support for Imane Khelif. Longtime anti-trans proponent JK. Rowling had inked her disgust at ‘misogynistic’ trends in women’s boxing. Now, her strong views come under fire given what Khelif went through and still won.

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