Imane Khelif Secures Victory After Angela Carini Withdraws in Olympic Boxing Bout

Italian Boxer Angela Carini Consoles Herself After Emotional Olympic Bout

Angela Carini, the Italian boxer, expressed a mix of pride and heartbreak following her recent match at the 2024 Paris Olympics. “I just did my job as a boxer,” Carini stated. “I got into the ring and fought. I did it with my head held high and with a broken heart for not having finished the last kilometer.”

Carini later received comforting words from Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, who visited the athlete and shared a heartfelt message on Instagram. “I know you won’t give up, Angela,” Meloni wrote. “And I know one day you will win what you deserve with effort and sweat. In a competition that is finally equal.”

Carini faced Imane Khelif, an accomplished amateur boxer from Algeria, known for her silver medal at the International Boxing Association’s 2022 world championships. Despite Khelif's controversial past involving disqualification due to alleged elevated testosterone levels, she remains a formidable opponent in the boxing world.

During the match, Carini demonstrated her fighting spirit but ultimately decided to end the bout early, citing physical and emotional challenges. “I am heartbroken because I am a fighter,” Carini said. “My father taught me to be a warrior. I have always stepped into the ring with honor and served my country with loyalty.”

Khelif's next challenge will be against Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori, who is unfazed by the controversy surrounding Khelif. Hamori expressed confidence and determination to win, stating, “I’m not scared… It will be a bigger victory for me if I win.”

The Olympic boxing scene has recently been under scrutiny due to athletes like Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, who faced disqualifications in the past for not meeting eligibility requirements. Despite these controversies, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) defends their right to compete under the current gender-related rules.

Meloni has voiced her criticism of allowing athletes with “genetically male” characteristics to compete against women, emphasizing the need to protect women’s rights in sports. The IOC, however, maintains its stance, ensuring gender parity and upholding the athletes' eligibility based on rules from the Rio 2016 Olympics.

This year marks a significant shift in Olympic boxing, with the IOC overseeing the event due to the International Boxing Association's (IBA) suspension over governance and financial transparency issues. The IBA, now led by Russian president Umar Kremlev, continues to face challenges and opposition from the newly formed World Boxing group, aiming for recognition by the IOC ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Despite the ongoing debates and controversies, athletes like Carini and Khelif remain focused on their Olympic dreams, striving for excellence and fairness in their sport.