Khelif and Yang Set for Gold Medal Showdown in Olympic Boxing

It was an electrifying night at the Olympic boxing rings, as Algeria‘s Imane Khelif and China’s Yang Liu triumphed in their semi-finals for the women’s 66kg category. Both boxers defeated their opponents from Thailand and Chinese Taipei, respectively, paving their way to a much-anticipated final.

Khelif faced off against Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng, winning the match by unanimous decision after demonstrating strong control throughout the fight. The crowd erupted into chants of “Imane, Imane, Imane!” as the referee raised her arm to announce her victory. Khelif expressed her joy, saying, “I’ve worked eight years for these Olympics, and I’m very proud of this moment.”

In the other semi-final, Yang had a tougher battle but managed to win on a 4-1 split decision against her opponent, Chen, who was gracious in defeat. Chen said of Yang, “I was very happy to fight against her…she’s very respectful. I hope she can get a gold medal.”

With both Khelif and Yang now set to go head-to-head for gold on Friday, it’s their first-ever Olympic final. The stakes couldn’t be higher, especially since both athletes previously finished fifth in different weight categories during the last Olympics.

The atmosphere at Roland Garros Stadium, an iconic venue usually known for tennis, was buzzing with excitement. Fans chanted and cheered to show their support for Khelif before and during her fight, with many even arriving hours early to ensure they had a good spot to witness her compete.

Khelif’s journey to the finals has been remarkable. Earlier in her bouts, she showcased impressive skills and resilience, including a first-round victory when her opponent, Italy’s Angela Carini, abandoned the fight. Khelif’s determination didn’t stop there; she secured victory against Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori with a clean sweep of points.

As the boxing tournament progresses toward its thrilling finale, all eyes will be on Khelif and Yang to see who will emerge as the champion in this intense Olympic boxing showdown.