Algeria boxer Imane Khelif embroiled in Olympics gender row into semifinals

Algerian boxer Khelif secures bronze at Paris Olympics amid gender controversy, facing Thailand's Suwannapheng in semi-finals.

The Algerian boxer embroiled in a major gender controversy guaranteed herself at least bronze at the Paris Olympics after winning her quarterfinal on August 3 on unanimous points.

Imane Khelif, who has found herself in the eye of a global storm along with another boxer from Taiwan, comfortably beat Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori to reach the semi-finals of the women’s 66kg category.

The duo embraced at the end, before the judges’ verdict was delivered, and Khelif left the ring in tears.

Some of the crowd at North Paris Arena, where there were a large number of Algerians, chanted Khelif’s name ahead of the bout and cheered her into the ring.

Hamori, who had said it was unfair to face Khelif, was booed into the venue but was magnanimous in defeat.

Khelif faces Janjaem Suwannapheng of Thailand in the last four on Tuesday for a place in the final.

Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting can also guarantee herself at least a bronze medal on Sunday when she faces Bulgaria’s Svetlana Staneva in the quarter-finals of the women’s 57kg.