What did Imane Khelif say about the women’s welterweight boxing final?

Algerian boxer Imane Khelif is relishing the opportunity to compete for an Olympic gold medal despite the noise around her route to the final. Khelif was born a female but found herself banned from the boxing world championships last year due to elevated levels of testosterone.

She has faced a considerable backlash throughout the games, with some prominent names arguing that Khelif has an unfair physical advantage. Nevertheless, Khelif is closing in an an Olympic Games gold medal.

“I am like all athletes, I am here to achieve my dream,” Khelif told AFP after the semi-final win over Janjaem Suwannapheng.

“I am very proud of this new achievement. I gave everything I had. We worked as a team for years and the dream has become a reality,” she continued. “I hope to focus and be up to the responsibility in the dream final.”

What did Imane Khelif’s opponent say about her?

The Algerian’s semi-final opponent, Suwannapheng, took a standing count in the third round and was unable to continue. She was significantly shorter than Khelif but denied the suggestion that there was anything unfair about her place in the Games.

“I had heard about the news regarding her, but I wasn’t following it closely,” Suwannapheng said after Tuesday’s bout. “She is a woman, but she is very strong.”

Khelif has now secured herself an Olympic medal and can finish with a gold if she can see off China’s Yang Liu in the women’s welterweight gold medal fight on Friday, August 9.

“I am focusing on the competition and other things are not important. The important thing is that I am in the final now,” Khelif told BeIN Sports.

“I don’t care what anyone is saying about me with the controversy,” she continued. “All that is important to me is that I stay on the level and give my people the performance they deserve. I know I’m a talented person and this is a gift to all Algerians.”