Imane Khelif will box for Olympic gold tonight, facing Liu Yang in the welterweight final at Paris 2024.
Khelif’s Olympic campaign has proven highly controversial, with the Algerian having allegedly failed a gender eligibility test in 2023 due to the presence of certain chromosomes. That test result led to Khelif’s disqualification from the World Championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA).
The IBA previously ran Olympic boxing but was dropped by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) before the Tokyo Games. The IOC no longer recognises the IBA as a governing body due to concerns over the organisation’s finances and ties to Russia, and due to fears of corruption.
In Paris, Khelif found herself under intense scrutiny after her first fight, as Angela Carini withdrew after just 46 seconds. The Italian, who received one significant punch from Khelif, retired from the bout in tears and said she had “never been hit so hard” in her life.
Carini later apologised, while Khelif went on to ease past Luca Anna Hamori and Janjaem Suwannapheng via unanimous decision. Now, the 25-year-old faces China’s Liu Yang, as both fighters chase Olympic gold.
Follow live updates and results below:
Imane Khelif vs Liu Yang: How Olympic controversy began
Before Khelif even stepped in the ring in Paris, there was scrutiny of her Olympic campaign.
The same applied to Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, who is in her own gold-medal match at featherweight this weekend.
Alex Pattle9 August 2024 16:05
Imane Khelif vs Liu Yang: Algerian’s controversial Olympics explained in full
The origin of this particular tempest can be traced back to 2022.
We take you back to the beginning, and explain how Khelif arrived at this moment, and what comes next…
Alex Pattle9 August 2024 15:45
Imane Khelif vs Liu Yang: What time does welterweight Olympic final start?
Tonight’s welterweight final between Khelif and Liu is scheduled for 10:51pm local time (9:51pm BST).
Khelif vs Liu is the fourth and final bout of the session (which starts at 9.30pm local time; 8.30pm BST) and follows the men’s heavyweight gold-medal fight – between Azerbaijan’s Loren Berto Alfonso Dominguez and Uzbekistan’s Lazizbek Mullojonov.
Alex Pattle9 August 2024 15:20
Imane Khelif vs Liu Yang: Olympic final LIVE
In Paris, Khelif found herself under intense scrutiny after her first fight, as Angela Carini withdrew after just 46 seconds. The Italian, who received one significant punch from Khelif, retired from the bout in tears and said she had “never been hit so hard” in her life.
Carini later apologised, while Khelif went on to ease past Luca Anna Hamori and Janjaem Suwannapheng via unanimous decision. Now, the 25-year-old faces China’s Liu Yang, as both fighters chase Olympic gold.
Alex Pattle9 August 2024 15:02