Imane Khelif clinches gold medal after unanimous decision over China's Yang Liu
Updated . First published at
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif's nightmare fortnight at Paris 2024 has ended in triumph.
She defeated China's Yang Liu via unanimous decision to win gold in the women's 66kg division on Saturday morning (AEST).
It's Algeria's first Olympic gold medal since the London Games in 2012. All five judges gave her the win.
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Imane Khelif celebrates her gold win. AP
"For eight years, this has been my dream, and I'm now the Olympic champion and gold medallist," Khelif said through an interpreter.
Asked about the scrutiny, she told reporters: "That also gives my success a special taste because of those attacks."
"We are in the Olympics to perform as athletes, and I hope that we will not see any similar attacks in future Olympics," she said.
Judges awarded Khelif all three rounds of the gold medal bout. Getty
Khelif won the first two rounds 10-9, and then went on the defensive in the final round to stay out of Yang's danger zone.
It forced Yang to come forward more, which unsettled the Algerian, who was warned by the referee for holding.
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She hugged her team after the fight, and saluted the crowd as the result was read out. The final score was 30-27 – all three rounds given to her 10-9.
Khelif was carried around the arena on her coach's shoulders, draped in the Algerian flag.
