Algiers
\nThe father of the Algerian boxer, Imane Khelif, who is participating in the ongoing Paris Olympics, finally broke silence over the criticism directed at his daughter regarding her gender, Reuters reported.
\nTerming the attacks targeting Imane \u201cimmoral\u201d, the father \u2014 Amar Khelif \u2014 shed light on athletes with Differences of Sexual Development (DSD) competing in sports competition, stating that his daughter honoured his family.
\nThis debate arose after Italian boxer Angela Carini exited the match within 46 seconds due to a series of painful blows from Khelif at the 2024 Paris Olympics on August 1.
\nPreviously, in 2023, the 25-year-old failed a gender eligibility test at the International Boxing Association (IBA) World Championships. She was, however, allowed to participate at the Paris Games by the International Olympic Committee.
\nIn an interview at his simple, cinderblock home on the outskirts of the northern Algerian city of Tiaret, her father said he was proud of his daughter and backed her to win a medal for all of Algeria.
\n\u201cHaving such a daughter is an honour because she is a champion; she honoured me, and I encourage her, and I hope she will get the medal in Paris,\u201d he said.
\n\u201cImane is a little girl who has loved sports since she was six-years-old.\u201d
\nHe shared with Reuters an official-looking document that showed her birthday. \u201cThis is our family official document, May 2, 1999, Imane Khelif, female. It is written here; you can read it; this document doesn\u2019t lie,\u201d he said.
\nKhelif fell foul of IBA eligibility rules that prevent athletes with XY chromosomes from competing in women\u2019s events when she was disqualified hours before her gold-medal bout in New Delhi last year.
\nAdditionally, Bouchra Rebihi, a 17-year-old who dreams of turning pro, scorned Khelif\u2019s naysayers.
\n\u201cI know Imane Khelif as the champion of Algeria many times, the champion of Africa as well, and also the Arab champion,\u201d she said.
\n\u201cThese critics aim to destabilise her to fail in the boxing ring, but she is a champion, and she will remain a champion.\u201d
\nMeanwhile, Khelif will be facing Hungary\u2019s Anna Luca Hamori later on Sunday in the women\u2019s welterweight quarterfinals.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Algiers The father of the Algerian boxer, Imane Khelif, who is participating in the ongoing Paris Olympics, finally broke silence over the criticism directed at his daughter regarding her gender, Reuters reported. Terming the attacks targeting Imane \u201cimmoral\u201d, the father \u2014 Amar Khelif \u2014 shed light on athletes with Differences of Sexual Development (DSD) competing […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-422855","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n