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The crowd cheered Imane Khelif with chants of “Tahia Imane” (long live Imane). read more
 "Imane Khelif gets huge reception on arrival in Algiers")
Algeria's Paris Olympics medallists Imane Khelif (L) and Kaylia Nemour (R) at Algiers airport in Algeria. AP
Paris Olympics boxing champion Imane Khelif, who was embroiled in the gender row, said she had won for her country’s women as Algeria’s medallists received a hero’s welcome at Algiers airport on Monday.
Paris Olympics: News, schedule, medals tally and more
Khelif, who clinched the gold medal in women’s 66kg boxing despite the distraction of being at the centre of a gender controversy, teenage gymnastics gold medallist Kaylia Nemour and men’s 800m bronze medallist Djamel Sedjati brandished their medals for the waiting fans.
The crowd cheered Khelif with chants of “Tahia Imane” (long live Imane).
Supporters of Algerian Olympic boxer Imane Khelif gathered in Algiers to celebrate after she won gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics. pic.twitter.com/eHfL4fJoN1
— DW News (@dwnews) August 12, 2024“The answer lay in the results of each match,” she said. “I wanted to show the strength of performance and the presence of women in general, and Algerian women in particular.”
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) took over the boxing competition in Paris after stripping International Boxing Association (IBA) of its credentials.
The IBA, led by Umar Kremlev, a Kremlin-linked oligarch, retaliated during the Games by saying it had disqualified Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting from its 2023 World Championships because its tests showed “these are men”. The IBA had allowed both boxers to compete in Tokyo three years ago.
Khelif, 25, addressed what she called a “relentless campaign” on Monday.
She said she wanted “to thank the Algerian people who supported me in this ordeal and gave me strength”.
“Algerian women are an example and a model for the whole world,” the boxer said. “Thanks to God, we have restored Algeria’s honour and flown the Algerian flag in Paris, which is the most important thing.”
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English (US) ·