The Algerian boxer embroiled in a major gender controversy at the Paris Olympics won her semi-final on Tuesday to guarantee at least a silver medal in front of a raucous Roland Garros crowd that chanted her name.
Imane Khelif beat Thailand’s 2023 silver medalist Janjaem Suwannapheng in a unanimous points decision to advance to Friday’s women’s 66kg final.
Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, the other boxer in the eye of the storm over her eligibility, is sure to take home at least bronze in another weight class herself.
Khelif, 25, and Lin faced off at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, but there was no controversy at the time and neither won a medal.
Both were disqualified from last year’s World Championships after failing gender eligibility tests, but have been cleared to compete in Paris.
Khelif drew the biggest roar of the night when she entered the Roland Garros arena, usually the home of Grand Slam tennis but hosting Olympic boxing and a large number of flag-waving Algerian fans.
Cries of “Imane, Imane” were heard repeatedly before and during the match.
The Thai, who had a clear height disadvantage, made himself count in the third round after feeling the full force of the superior Algerian.
At the end of the bout at the 15,000-seat Philippe-Chatrier court, which was close to capacity, the two fighters greeted each other warmly and shook hands.
Khelif danced in the middle of the ring to more roars of approval.
Khelif will face China’s Yang Liu or Taiwan’s Chen Nien-chin for the gold.
The gender controversy flared when Khelif knocked out Angela Carini in 46 seconds in their opening bout in the French capital, the Italian breaking down in tears and leaving the fight after suffering a badly injured nose.
The 2023 World Championships, from which Lin and Khelif were banned, were administered by the International Boxing Association (IBA), but the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is organizing the sport at the Games due to financial, administrative and ethical issues at the IBA.
Kremlin-connected IBA president Umar Kremlev said at a chaotic press conference on Monday that both fighters had “genetic tests that show they are male”.
The IOC jumped to the defense of Khelif and Lin, with president Thomas Bach saying they were born and raised female and have it written on their passports. The 28-year-old Lin will compete in the semifinals of the women’s 57 kg division on Wednesday.
