The match took place in front of an enthusiastic crowd at Roland Garros, who passionately chanted Khelif’s name throughout the contest.
In a separate weight class, Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, another boxer involved in the eligibility controversy, is also assured of winning at least a bronze medal. Both Khelif, 25, and Lin participated in the Tokyo Olympics three years prior without any controversy and did not secure medals at that time.
The two boxers faced disqualification from the world championships last year after failing to meet gender eligibility requirements. However, they were subsequently cleared to participate in the Paris Olympics.
“I am focusing on the competition and other things are not important. The important thing is that I am in the final now,” Khelif told BeIN Sports.
“I am very proud of this new achievement. I gave everything I had. We worked as a team for years and the dream has become a reality. I hope to focus and be up to the responsibility in the dream final.”
Khelif, the Algerian boxer, received a thunderous ovation as she stepped into the arena at Roland Garros, which is typically known for hosting Grand Slam tennis tournaments.
The venue was packed with a considerable number of Algerian fans waving flags and chanting “Imane, Imane” throughout the bout.
Khelif’s opponent, the Thai boxer Janjaem, who was visibly shorter, took a standing count in the third round after feeling the full force of the Algerian’s superior skills.
Despite the intense atmosphere, the two fighters showed great sportsmanship at the end of the fight, warmly greeting each other and shaking hands.
Khelif celebrated her victory with a dance in the center of the ring, eliciting even more cheers from the crowd.
She will face Yang Liu for the gold medal, after the Chinese boxer defeated Taiwan’s Chen Nien-chin on points in the other semi-final.
The gender controversy surrounding Khelif and another boxer, Lin, began when Khelif defeated Angela Carini in just 46 seconds during her opening bout. Carini, who suffered a severe nose injury, was reduced to tears and forced to abandon the fight. The 2023 world championships, from which both Khelif and Lin were expelled, were organized by the International Boxing Association (IBA). However, due to concerns over the IBA’s financial, governance, and ethical practices, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has taken charge of the sport at the Olympic Games.
IBA president Umar Kremlev, who has ties to the Kremlin, made a controversial claim during a chaotic press conference, stating that both fighters had undergone “genetic testing that shows that these are men.”
The IOC has strongly defended Khelif and Lin, with president Thomas Bach emphasizing that they were born and raised as women and hold passports reflecting their gender.