VILLEPINTE, France: Boxer Imane Khelif of Algeria clinched a medal Saturday at the Paris Olympics following days of sharp scrutiny and online abuse as misconceptions about her gender have exploded into a larger clash about identity in sports.
Khelif defeated Anna Luca Hamori of Hungary 5:0 in the quarterfinals of the women’s 66-kilogram bout.
Khelif will win at least a bronze medal after defeating Hamori for the second victory of her tumultuous second trip to the Olympics.
Khelif was faced international scrutiny after the banned International Boxing Association claimed Khelif failed an unspecified eligibility test for women’s competition last year. She then won her opening bout Thursday when opponent Angela Carini of Italy tearfully abandoned the fight after just 46 seconds.
The unusual ending became a sharp wedge to drive into an already prominent divide over gender identity and regulations in sports, drawing comments from the likes of former US President Donald Trump, “Harry Potter” writer J.K. Rowling and others falsely claiming Khelif was a man or transgender.
At a Paris Games that has championed inclusion and seen other outcry over an opening ceremony performance featuring drag queens, LGBTQ+ groups say the hateful comments could pose dangers to their community and female athletes.
IOC President Thomas Bach on Saturday defended Khelif and fellow boxer Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan. Khelif and Lin were disqualified in the middle of last year’s world championships by the International Boxing Association, the now-banned former governing body of Olympic boxing, after what it claimed were failed eligibility tests for the women’s competition.
Both had competed in IBA events for several years without problems, and the Russian-dominated body — which has faced years of clashes with the IOC over judging scandals, leadership decisions and financial issues — has refused to provide any information about the tests, underscoring its lack of transparency in nearly every aspect of its dealings, particularly in recent years.
“Let’s be very clear here: We are talking about women’s boxing,” Bach said Saturday. “We have two boxers who are born as a woman, who have been raised a woman, who have a passport as a woman, and who have competed for many years as women. And this is the clear definition of a woman. There was never any doubt about them being a woman.”
The IBA, which received the unprecedented punishment of being banned from Olympic participation in 2019 following years of conflict with the IOC, disqualified Khelif last year for what it said were elevated levels of testosterone.
The IBA, which is led by an acquaintance of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has not released more details on the tests, calling the process confidential.
“What we see now is that some want to own the definition of who is a woman,” Bach added. “And there I can only invite them to come up with a scientific-based new definition of who is a woman, and how can somebody being born, raised, competed and having a passport as a woman cannot be considered a woman?
“If they are coming up with something, we are ready to listen,” Bach added. “We are ready to look into it, but we will not take part in a sometimes politically motivated cultural war.”
Khelif will clinch at least a bronze medal in her second Olympics after failing to medal at the Tokyo Games held in 2021.
Khelif will face Janjaem Suwannapheng of Thailand in the 66-kg semifinals on Tuesday at Roland Garros. Suwannpheng, a silver medalist at last year’s world championships, upset defending Olympic champion Busenaz Surmeneli a few minutes before Khelif’s victory.
Lin, also a two-time Olympian, will clinch her first medal Sunday if she beats Svetlana Staneva of Bulgaria. Lin won her opening bout Friday comfortably over Uzbekistan’s Sitora Turdibekova.
Amid the scrutiny, both Khelif and Lin have received only cheers from the crowds at North Paris Arena.
“What is going on in this context in the social media, with all this hate speech, with all this aggression and abuse, and fueled by this agenda, is totally unacceptable,” Bach said.
The reduced field at the Paris Olympics boxing tournament — which has the fewest number of total boxers since 1956 — means that many fighters can clinch medals with just two victories. Boxing awards two bronze medals in each weight class, which means every semifinalist wins a medal.
The Olympic sport reached gender parity for the first time in Paris, inviting 124 men and 124 women just 12 years after women’s boxing made its Olympic debut.
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif clinches medal at Paris Olympics after gender outcry
https://arab.news/pkzcs
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif clinches medal at Paris Olympics after gender outcry
- Khelif defeated Anna Luca Hamori of Hungary 5:0 in the quarterfinals of the women’s 66-kilogram bout
- She will win at least a bronze medal after defeating Hamori for the second victory of her tumultuous second trip to the Olympics
Al-Nassr seeking revenge in tonight’s clash against Al-Qadsiah
- Team look to maintain pressure on the league toppers, Al-Ittihad
- Friday’s match is expected to witness the return of Croatian midfielder Marcelo Brozovic
RIYADH: Al-Nassr’s first football team will play against Al-Qadsiah at 9:00 p.m. Saudi time tonight, as part of Round 28 of the Saudi Roshn League, at the Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam.
The capital’s team, which has entered the title race, aims to secure all three points and take revenge after losing to their opponent 1-2 in the first leg. They also look to maintain pressure on the league toppers, Al-Ittihad.
The two clubs have previously met 17 times in the Pro League, with Al-Nassr achieving nine victories, while Al-Qadsiah has five wins, and three matches ending in a draw.
Al-Qadsiah’s net has received 30 goals by Al-Nassr’s strikers, while the latter have conceded 18 goals during those encounters.
Italian coach Stefano Pioli hopes his side Al-Nassr can earn the three points without any injuries, especially with the final rounds of the Elite Asian Cup just one week away.
Friday’s match is expected to witness the return of Croatian midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, who missed the previous game against Al-Riyadh — which Al-Nassr defeated 2-1 in Round 27 — due to rest.
Meanwhile, Spanish coach Michel Gonzalez described their clash against Al-Nassr as tough but expressed confidence in his team’s ability to overcome the challenge and secure a win — something that has eluded them in the last four rounds, in which they drew twice and lost twice.
Al-Nassr sit in third place with 57 points, just one point behind second-placed Al-Hilal and eight points behind leaders Al-Ittihad. Al-Qadsiah hold fifth place with 52 points, tied with Al-Ahli.
Former Man United prospect Joe Thompson dies at 36 after third cancer diagnosis
- Thompson died at home with his family by his side
- He retired in 2019 and went on to become a motivational speaker and soccer pundit
MANCHESTER, England: Joe Thompson, a former Manchester United academy player who made more than 200 appearances for local club Rochdale, has died. He was 36.
Fifth-tier English club Rochdale announced that Thompson, who had been fighting cancer for a third time, died Thursday at home with family by his side.
“We first knew Joe primarily as a talented footballer, but we would soon grow to adore his loving, infectious personality,” Rochdale said in a statement on Friday.
“He faced every battle head-on, both on and off the pitch. His journey and indomitable spirit have been an inspiration for everyone who has been touched by his story. Above all of that, Joe was a loving husband to Chantelle and an incredible father to Thailula and Athena Rae.”
A midfielder, Thompson was first diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2013 while playing for Tranmere. The disease returned three years later.
Thompson announced he was cancer-free in 2017 and less than a year later entered himself “into Rochdale folklore,” the club said, by coming off the bench in the final game of the 2017-18 season to score in a 1-0 win that kept the team in the third tier.
He retired in 2019 and went on to become a motivational speaker and soccer pundit. He also held an ambassadorial role with United.
Last year, Thompson was diagnosed with cancer for a third time.
United posted a tribute to Thompson on its social media channels, saying he “epitomized our club’s values.”
Rochdale, located just north of Manchester, said its players would wear black armbands during Friday’s match at Altrincham in the National League.
Morocco’s Salah Eddine Hamli ready to make a mark at PFL MENA in Jeddah
- Hamli faces Bahrain’s Abbas Khan on May 9 at Onyx Arena
JEDDAH: On May 9 the second season of PFL MENA kicks off in Jeddah with several young fighters battling to make their mark in the sport.
A new talent is Morocco’s Salah Eddine Hamli, who meets Bahrain’s Abbas Khan in a lightweight quarterfinal bout.
Undefeated in eight professional bouts with five wins by stoppage, Hamli has fought for multiple promotions, most recently with WAR MMA in Spain, where he scored back-to-back unanimous decision wins.
Stepping onto the biggest stage of his MMA career, Hamli says that getting to compete in the PFL SmartCage is a dream come true.
“It means a lot to me because it reflects all the hard work I’ve put in,” Hamli said. “Having the opportunity to compete in such a big organization like PFL is a dream come true.”
Hamli says that he followed the first season of PFL MENA, thanks in large part to compatriot Rachid Haz.
Haz fell short of claiming the PFL MENA bantamweight championship, losing by knockout to Ali Taleb in the first round of the finals bout.
“I followed (the first season) especially since Rachid, my fellow Moroccan, made it to the final,” Hamli said. “Even though he didn’t win, we supported him all the way.”
“I’m super prepared and focused, and people are going to see a great show,” Hamli said. “I believe I’m a complete fighter in every aspect, and I’m very hungry for this.”
Hamli knows that Khan will not be an easy assignment. “He’s a good opponent, quite well-rounded. I’m really looking forward to stepping inside the SmartCage with him.”
The complete 2025 PFL MENA 1 Fight Card:
Featherweight quarterfinal: Abdullah Al-Qahtani (10-2) vs. Islam Reda (12-1)
Lightweight quarterfinal: Mohsen Mohammadseifi (7-2) vs. Ahmed El-Sisy (6-1, 1 NC)
Lightweight quarterfinal: Salah Eddine Hamli (8-0) vs. Abbas Khan (8-3)
Featherweight quarterfinal: Izzedine Al-Derbani (15-5) vs. Yanis Ghemmouri (12-3)
Flyweight Showcase: Malik Basahel (0-0) vs. Mountasser Boutouta (1-0)
Featherweight quarterfinal: Abdelrahman Alyhasat (5-0) vs. Taha Bendaoud (4-0)
Featherweight quarterfinal: Hussein Salem (12-5) vs. Assem Ghanem (6-0)
Lightweight quarterfinal: Georges Eid (10-5, 1 NC) vs. Mohammad Fahmi (4-0)
Lightweight Showcase: Ahmed Makki (1-3-1) vs. Hasham Elnamer (3-0)
Lightweight quarterfinal: Abdullah Saleem (5-0, 1 NC) vs. Souhil Tairi (7-6-1)
Featherweight Showcase: Youssef Alhosani (4-1) vs. Neder Jeffel (2-0)
Amateur catchweight 166 pounds (74kg) Showcase: Abdulaziz bin Moammar (10-3 AM) vs. Fares Hamdani (2-0 AM)
Top drivers geared up for Jeddah F1 weekend
- Defending champion Max Verstappen hopes to improve on Bahrain
- Veteran Fernando Alonso thinks ‘high-speed’ circuit suits his team
JEDDAH: Some of the world’s top drivers including Max Verstappen, Fernando Alonso and Isack Hadjar are geared up for the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah this weekend.
At a press conference on Thursday, Red Bull’s Verstappen, the defending champion, said: “I hope it will be better than Bahrain (where he finished sixth), there are high-speed corners with a different asphalt.
“And I hope we will be more competitive. Here we have always done one stop but we will see how the tires hold up, it will be quite hot. We are making an improvement process.”
Aston Martin’s Alonso said: “The first few weekends have not been easy for us but I think the high-speed nature of Jeddah should suit us better.
“We are still discovering the car, the first GPs showed that the slow corners were our weak points but there were other concerns about bouncing and we are still working on it.
“Here there is much more grip and it should be a better weekend. I think in Formula 1 there is never a quick fix to solve the problems but we have some ideas, some are related to the set-up that we will try this weekend.”
Red Bull Junior Hadjar shared his excitement about racing in Jeddah: “Bahrain wasn’t as good as the previous two GPs. I don’t think our level was that low and I think this track will suit us better.
“Every track is always impressive for the first time, I think I got into the rhythm straight away and I’m looking forward to trying the track here, especially the first sector.”
Several other drivers also spoke to the media on Thursday including Williams’ Alex Albon, Haas’ Ollie Bearman and Stake’s Gabriel Bortoleto.
Luka Doncic eager to start playing big games for Lakers, starting in playoff date with Timberwolves
- Doncic is one of the top playoff performers of his generation, and he is just one year removed from his remarkable effort in carrying the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals
- Doncic’s supporting cast in Hollywood is more impressive than it was in Dallas last
EL SEGUNDO: Luka Doncic has been with the Los Angeles Lakers for 2 1/2 months now, and he’s feeling fairly comfortable in his new home. He is building chemistry with his new teammates, who are getting used to his brilliant passes, prolific scoring outbursts and fiery competitiveness.
But the playoffs begin this weekend, and the Lakers know they’re about to see yet another side of their Slovenian superstar.
“I like big games,” Doncic said Thursday with his typical understatement. “The playoffs is a fun time. Everybody plays 100 percent. It’s just fun to be out there.”
Doncic is one of the top playoff performers of his generation, and he is just one year removed from his remarkable effort in carrying the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals despite significant injuries to his right knee, left ankle and chest.
Doncic is healthier now — and he has LeBron James on his side this spring when the third-seeded Lakers begin the first round against the surging Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 on Saturday night.
While Los Angeles drew a difficult opening-round matchup for a team still assembling an identity around its new centerpiece, the Lakers expect to see something special from Doncic.
“Oh man, it’s exciting,” said Lakers swingman Dorian Finney-Smith, Doncic’s teammate for five seasons in Dallas. “I already know bro is going to come with the juice. He loves the moment. Knowing him, probably got to calm him down, too, because he’s going to be barking. It’s going to be exciting.”
Doncic faced Minnesota in the playoffs just last season, and it was one of the finest series performances of his career. He led the Mavericks past the Timberwolves in five games in the Western Conference finals, averaging 32.4 points, 9.6 rebounds, 8.2 assists and 2.2 steals while hitting 23 3-pointers.
Doncic’s entire 2024 postseason was outstanding — incredibly, he led the NBA in playoff points, rebounds and assists — but it wasn’t even his most prolific playoff performance. His 28.9 points per game over the 22-game stretch actually comprised his lowest scoring output in his four trips to the postseason.
Can he do something similar in his first trip to the playoffs with the 17-time NBA champion Lakers? Doncic isn’t guaranteeing anything, but he will be hungry and healthy after getting seven days off since the Lakers clinched the No. 3 seed by beating Houston last Friday.
“The goal is to win a championship,” Doncic said. “I think we have a great team. We have guys that are willing to go to war. Everybody is staying together. The chemistry is high, so I think we for sure have a chance.”
Doncic’s supporting cast in Hollywood is more impressive than it was in Dallas last season, when Kyrie Irving was the only other major offensive contributor. Along with the top scorer in NBA history, the Lakers also have capable third option Austin Reaves and a gallery of solid role players on a team that has gone 19-12 since Doncic arrived.
Doncic is averaging 28.1 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists in his 28 games with the Lakers — just 21 of those with both James and Reaves alongside him. That’s not much time to build a championship-winning dynamic, but Doncic and James both have ample experience as postseason leaders and winners.
And whatever Doncic manages to accomplish, his teammates know he’ll do it with style.
“He’s smiling on the court and off the court, talking a lot of trash on the bench or with whatever fans he’s picking out that’s yelling at him, and it’s exciting,” Finney-Smith said. “He brings an excitement to the game. He makes unbelievable passes. That last (regular-season) game, the Houston game, I cut, thinking he wasn’t going to throw the ball to me. He threw it my direction, and he was like, ‘What, you think I didn’t see you?’”
