Algerian gender-row boxer Khelif storms to Olympic gold

PARIS: Algerian boxer Imane Khelif defied a major gender controversy to win gold at the Paris Olympics on Friday (Aug 9) in front of a pulsating Roland Garros crowd that roared her to victory.

Khelif claimed a unanimous points decision win over China's Yang Liu in the women's 66kg final for her first Olympic medal.

Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting, who together with Khelif was disqualified from last year's world championships after failing gender eligibility testing, fights in the women's 57kg final on Saturday.

There were large numbers of Algerian fans at the 15,000-seated Court Philippe Chatrier, usually home to Grand Slam tennis but instead there to witness one of the most controversial athletes at the Games.