Algerian boxer Imane Khelif called for an end to "bullying and negative rhetoric" following her historic success in securing an Olympic medal in the women's 66kg weight class at the Paris Olympics, becoming the first Algerian woman to do so.
The triumph of Khelif over Anna Luca Hamori from Hungary signified more than a first medal in boxing won by Algeria since 2000; it also meant booking her a place in the semi-finals. On Tuesday, she will meet Janjaem Suwannapheng of Thailand.
In the wake of her victory, Khelif found herself at the heart of a gender eligibility row. Along with Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting, she has suffered online harassment as the public took umbrage with different eligibility criteria laid out by both the International Olympic Committee and the governing body for amateur boxing, the International Boxing Association.
Both boxers were denied last year's World Championships by the IBA due to some eligibility issues but were later allowed to compete at the Paris Olympics under the regulations of the IOC.
"I send a message to all the people all over the world to uphold the Olympic principles and the Olympic Charter, not to bully all athletes because this has effects, big effects," said Khelif in an interview with SNTV in Arabic. "It can destroy people, it can kill people's thoughts, spirit, and mind. It can divide people. And because of that, I ask them to refrain from bullying."
She also shared her hopes with her family, saying, "I am in contact with my family two days a week. I hope they were not affected too much by this news. Of course, they worry about me. God willing, this crisis will end with a gold medal, and this will be the best answer.".
He thanked the IOC and the president, Thomas Bach, for the support, saying, "I know that the Olympic Committee did me justice, and I feel contented with this remedy because it signifies the truth.".
Lin Yu-ting, who will meet Turkey's Esra Yildiz in the women's 57kg semi-final, has become caught up in the row. Since recording the victory over Bulgaria's Svetlana Kamenova Staneva, Lin has been on the receiving end of a mix of encouragement and denigration.
Before the official result was announced, Staneva made a double XX gesture with her hands, in regards to the female chromosome, and initially seemed dismissive to Lin. However, it was finally declared that Staneva was the winner, and she opened up the ropes to let Lin through—a nod to the opponent at her achievement.
Twenty-eight-year-old Lin expressed her thanks for the tremendous support she had received and added, "I know all of Taiwan's people stand behind me and support me, and I'll carry this energy to the end. Even though I won this match, it doesn't mean I can relax. I still need to work hard.".
The Taiwan Olympic Committee has declared Lin eligible to compete under the rules of the IOC. It has also issued a condemnation of the online abuse she receives. The committee announced that it would stand firmly by the athlete with full support and strongly condemned the malicious online behavior.
"The delegation stands firmly by the athlete with full support and strongly condemns the malicious online abuse and personal attacks and calls for an immediate stop on those behaviors," read the statement.
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