View from SunSport’s Joshua Jones in Paris
IMANE KHELIF will fight for Olympic gold after another dominant win in the ring.
The Algerian, 25, blocked out the outside vitriol of the gender row to keep full focus on her task at hand.
After calling for an end to the “bullying”, she mercilessly despatched Janjaem Suwannapheng, 23, to reach Friday’s final.
The IBA claim two blood tests allegedly showed Khelif has XY chromosomes and therefore failed to meet their gender eligibility, booting her out of last year’s world championships.
But the IOC discredit the Russian-backed IBA and are happy with the female status on the passport of Khelif, and Lin Yu-ting, giving them the green light to compete at Paris 2024.
And Khelif has taken full advantage, winning her first two bouts with ease before breezing past Thailand’s No5 seed Suwannapheng, celebrating with a finger wag and then a joyful jig inside the ropes.
It was a new location under the roof of tennis’ Court Philippe-Chatrier at Roland Garros but Khelif received the same vociferous welcome with dozens of Algerian flags all around the impressive 15,000-seater arena.
Chants of her name started between and even during the bouts earlier on the card and amplified to ear-splitting volumes for her ring walk, while Suwannapheng got a mix of boos and applause.
In the opening round, towering Khelif had it all her own way and got the favour of all five judges, even after putting her opponent in a headlock.
The second was more of the same, again taking it 5-0, as every punch that landed from her blue gloves got met by a deafening cheer.
Khelif tried to wrap it up in style and the referee stepped in to give Suwannapheng a count with 20 seconds to go.
But although she survived to the final bell, Suwannapheng, Khelif and all the fans knew the Algerian had won – and it was soon confirmed by unanimous decision.
This famous stadium has seen its fair share of dominant wins from Rafael Nadal – but this was right up there.
Another performance like that on Friday and Khelif will be an Olympic champion.