GENDER row boxer Imane Khelif continues her Olympics campaign this weekend, despite the controversy surrounding her participation in Paris.
Khelif beat Italian Angela Carini, who quit their bout after 46 seconds, in the last 16.
Algeria’s Imane Khelif beat Italy’s Angela Carini in their women’s 66kg fight[/caption]The fight sparked global outrage over Khelif’s inclusion at the Games, having been disqualified from last year’s Women’s Boxing World Championships for failing to meet gender eligibility criteria.
The International Olympic Committee said she was disqualified after failing a testosterone level test.
Khelife lost in the quarter-final to eventual gold medal winner Kellie Harrington at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, and has nine defeats on her record in total.
But she’ll be looking to go all the way this time, and next up is Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori.
Imane Khelif takes on Anna Luca Hamori in the quarter-finals of the 66kg division on Saturday, August 3.
The bout will get underway at approximately 4.22pm BST and is set to be under a massive spotlight.
Hamori has said she isn’t scared of facing Khelif at all, even with all the furore surrounding her.
She told reporters: “I’m not scared. I don’t care about the press story and social media.
“If she or he is a man, it will be a bigger victory for me if I win.”
If Khelif wins, she guarantees herself a bronze medal with a spot in the semi-final.
A loss would see her crash out of the quarter-final stage at a second successive Olympic games.