She steps into the ring, throws powerful punches and comes out victorious in just 46 seconds. Algerian boxer Imane Khelif shocked spectators by winning her opening Olympic bout on Day 6 of the Paris Olympics, making her Italian opponent Angela Carini quit.
The atmosphere was electric as Khelif – previously banned from world championships after failing the gender eligibility test – entered the North Paris arena. Right from the start, her speed and reach proved too much for Carini, who struggled to keep up.
Within 30 seconds, Carini had already taken a punch to the nose and sought help from her coach to fix her headgear. She tried to re-enter the fight, but quickly realized she couldn’t continue and returned to her corner, ending the match. Fans were disappointed because such an occurrence is extremely unusual in Olympic boxing.
Talking to reporters, Carini said he had always honored her country with loyalty, but the pain was too much to handle. She also explained that she had never been punched like that by anyone in her career. Her coach Emanuele Renzini said many of Carini’s friends had warned her against fighting Khelif, saying that fighting a “man” would be dangerous for her.
On the other hand, Khelif, who faced disqualification in the 2023 World Championships in New Delhi due to eligibility issues just hours before her gold medal bout, said she was there for the gold and would fight everyone.
Khelif’s eligibility for the Paris Olympics was a topic of much debate, but the International Olympic Committee (IOC) finally allowed her to compete. The committee’s decision was met with mixed reactions, but Khelif remained focused on her goal and made the most of the opportunity.
Meanwhile, United Nations official Reem Alsalem voiced strong criticism over the decision to allow Khelif to compete in the women’s boxing event. The UN special rapporteur on violence against women and girls expressed her concerns online. Posting on social media platform X, she said Carini had rightly prioritized her physical safety by quitting the fight.
Earlier, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had questioned the fairness of the boxing bout and stressed the need for “equal competition grounds”, implying that Khelif should not have been allowed to fight women. However, the IOC stood by its decision, noting that athletes like her had competed for years in women’s competitions.
The social media was swarmed after the match in support of Carini, with many calling it an unfair fight.
Taking to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) American swimmer Riley Gaines said that men didn’t belong in women’s sports, a comment endorsed by businessman and investor Elon Musk.
The controversy surrounding Khelif has not overshadowed her talent, and fans are anxiously looking forward to her next fight in the quarter-finals, where she will face Hungary’s Luca Hamori. She will be in the spotlight not just because of her boxing talent but also for the discussions on her participation.