From bureaucrats to millionaires, everyone took a dig at Imane Khelif for her higher testosterone after Italian boxer Angela Carini withdrew from the Round of 16 clash within 46 seconds, criticizing heavier blows from the Algerian.
However, the amount of scrutiny did not deter her determination, as she defeated her Hungarian opponent Luca Anna Hamori 5:0 in the quarter-finals to assure herself of a medal.
Khelif broke down and pumped her fist as she was backed by her coaching staffs on the way out of the right.
Moreover, she also had to forcibly declare her gender after the victory, after the massive row that was triggered against her following the abandoned clash against Carini.
“I want to tell the entire world that I am a female, and I will remain a female,” the Algerian said.
“I dedicate this medal to the world, and to all the Arabs and I tell you, ‘Long live Algeria!’ ” she told reporters.
She will face Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng in the semi-finals on Tuesday.
