Algerians rally behind gold medal hopeful Imane Khelif amid gender misconceptions

Relatives and neighbours erupted in cheers on Tuesday when Algeria's Imane Khelif advanced to the Olympic final in women's boxing, winning a clear unanimous decision over Janjaem Suwannapheng of Thailand.

In Ain Mesbah, the rural cinder block-built town where the boxer was raised, legions of supporters convened on her uncle's home to watch Khelif's match. With news camera lights shining on the gathering, they drank orange juice, waved flags and whistled as Khelif jumped around the ring in excitement about advancing to Friday's gold medal match.

"Between the quarterfinals and the semifinals, we were on edge," said Rachid Khelif, referencing the wave of uninformed speculation about his niece's gender. "We were afraid that these attacks would affect her psychologically. But thank God, we saw Imane in a good state of mind."

Few Algerians could have imagined that a 25-year-old welder's daughter from the drought-stricken Tiaret region could unite the population in such a way. But the Muslim-majority country has largely interpreted the backlash against Khelif as an attack on the nation rather than within the context of the debate underway in many Western nations about gender, sex and sports.

In the North African nation's newspapers, on television and all over social media, Khelif has become a hometown hero, celebrated for her successes and defended amid misconceptions about her gender and scrutiny over her eligibility to compete.

"Imane Khelif, the last round against hate and racism!" read a Tuesday headline in leading Algerian daily Echourouk, which described her as "an iconic figure in national sport."

Rifka, an Algerian social media influencer with 5.4 million Instagram followers, posted earlier this week showing himself