Algeria’s Imane Khelif (left) in action against Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng during the women’s 66kg semifinal at Roland-Garros Stadium. (Peter Byrne/PA Images via Getty Images)
PARIS — The story of the Olympics’ boxing gender controversy moved to a grander stage on Tuesday night, as Algeria’s Imane Khelif won a unanimous decision and now moves on to fight for an Olympic gold medal.
Khelif squared off against Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng shortly after 10:30 p.m. under the closed roof of Roland-Garros Stadium, before a raucous and engaged crowd. The echoes in cavernous Roland-Garros were far louder than tiny North Paris Arena, where Khelif’s Olympic journey began.
Algerian flags lined Roland-Garros’ lower sections, and Khelif entered the arena second, to the night’s loudest cheers and deafening chants of “I-MANE!” Wearing blue trunks and top, she stormed into the arena, punching the air. Khelif and Suwannapheng tapped gloves at the center of the ring, and the fight began.
In Round 1, Khelif again used her reach advantage, keeping Suwannapheng at a distance before landing jabs. Suwannapheng spent much of the early part of the round in a defensive crouch, and the crowd, sensing her conservatism, tried to rally Khelif with loud chants