Ex-Man City star Riyad Mahrez leads Algerian football stars in heaping praise on Imane Khelif after the boxing star engulfed in gender controversy secured a gold medal in Paris
- Imane Khelif stormed to victory in the women’s welterweight division in Paris
- Algerian football stars showed their support for their compatriot after her victory
- AC Milan midfielder Ismael Bennacer called the 25-year-old an ‘inspiration’
Riyad Mahrez was among the Algerian football stars who congratulated Imane Khelif after she defeated China’s Yang Liu in Paris on Friday to win Olympic gold.
After entering the tournament as the fifth-seeded woman in the welterweight class amid a storm of controversy surrounding her gender, Khelif was utterly dominant en route to securing her spot in the Olympic final.
Against reigning world champion Liu, Khelif continued her winning streak at Roland Garros, making the most of her reach and fighting well on the outside to consistently deliver long-range shots.
Liu tried to force the action but couldn’t find her target. After three rounds, Khelif was declared the winner, achieving a clean sweep on all five judges’ scorecards.
With the victory, the 25-year-old became the first Algerian to win Olympic gold in boxing since Hocine Soltani triumphed in the lightweight class in 1996.
Riyad Mahrez led the congratulations to Imane Khelif after she won Olympic gold in Paris
Khelif defeated China’s Yang Liu to become the first Algerian boxing gold medalist in 28 years
Khelif, whose involvement in the tournament has been shrouded in controversy, paid tribute to her compatriots after the historic victory
Khelif’s victory sparked wild celebrations among her compatriots on social media, with Riyad Mahrez tweeting emojis of the country’s flag and issuing a salute similar to the one she gave after her hand was raised.
Mahrez had previously voiced his support for Khelif in a video he posted during her race to the final in France.
‘Hello, Imane Khelif, I am Riyad Mahrez and I know you are a great boxer.
‘Good luck and I hope you are the first Algerian to win the World Cup!’
Meanwhile, AC Milan midfielder Ismael Bennacer praised Khelif’s mental resilience throughout the tournament.
“Congratulations to our Olympic champion Imane Khelif,” he wrote on his X account.
‘Despite the hate, misinformation and ruthlessness, she remained mentally strong and won the gold medal and honored Algeria.’
Algerian football stars Mahrez and Ismael Bennacer took to social media to show their support
Mahrez previously voiced his support for Khelif during her run to the final of the 2024 Games
The former Arsenal star then shared a photo of Khelif with her gold medal, writing: ‘The image we’ve all been waiting for.
‘Imane’s coronation will remain a source of pride and inspiration for all of Algeria!’
After her victory, Khelif thanked Algerians “all over the world” for their support.
“Yes, I want to thank all the Algerians who came to Paris,” said Khelif, who was given female status at birth and has always been registered as female in her passport – the International Olympic Committee’s threshold for participation.
‘I want to thank the people of Algeria all over the world!’
Khelif’s participation in the 2024 Games has sparked controversy after she was previously disqualified from the 2023 Women’s World Boxing Championships for allegedly failing a gender test.
The victory at Roland Garros is the 25-year-old’s first major triumph at international level
The body that coordinates the competition, the Russian-backed International Boxing Association, has come under heavy fire for several controversies and is no longer recognized by the International Olympic Committee.
Taiwan’s Lin Yu-Ting, who was also subjected to online abuse after failing a gender test at an earlier IBA event, will fight for gold in the featherweight division on Saturday night.