Angela Carini, Italian Boxer Quits Olympics Bout After 46 Seconds Against Algerian Boxer, Imane Khelif
Source: www.express.co.uk
Paris, France – A shocking turn of events unfolded at the Paris Olympics as Italian boxer Angela Carini abruptly abandoned her bout against Algeria's Imane Khelif after just 46 seconds. The unexpected ending to the match has sparked widespread discussion and controversy.
Carini claimed she was forced to quit due to intense pain in her nose after receiving a powerful blow from Khelif. Overwhelmed by the pain, she decided to end the fight, a decision that was met with disbelief by many spectators. The incident has shone a spotlight on the ongoing debate surrounding gender eligibility in women's sports. Khelif, who was previously disqualified from the 2023 World Championships for failing a gender eligibility test, has been at the center of controversy.
The Italian boxer Angela Carini broke down in tears after she abandoned her bout against the Algerian Imane Khelif after 46 seconds in a fight that sparked huge controversy at the Olympics.
Khelif is one of two boxers permitted to fight at the Olympics despite being disqualified from the women’s world championships last year for failing gender eligibility tests.
In highly charged scenes at the North Paris Arena, a first punch from Khelif dislodged Carini’s chinstrap and a second smashed against her chin and bloodied her shorts. After multiple punches Carini returned to her corner and raised her hand. She fell to her knees sobbing and refused to shake Khelif’s hand after the Algerian was declared the winner. Carini said she had pulled out after being hit harder than she had ever been hit and feared her nose was broken. “I am heartbroken,” Carini said. “I went to the ring to honour my father. I was told a lot of times that I was a warrior but I preferred to stop for my health. I have never felt a punch like this.”
The 25-year-old, from Naples, added: “I got into the ring to fight. I didn’t give up, but one punch hurt too much and so I said enough. I’m going out with my head held high."
“After the second punch, after years of experience, I felt a strong pain in the nose. I said enough, because I didn’t want. I couldn’t finish the fight after the punch to the nose. So it was better to put an end to it. I am in pieces because I am a fighter, they taught me to be a warrior. I have always tried to behave with honour, I have always represented my country with loyalty. This time I didn’t manage to because I couldn’t fight any more. Regardless of the person I had in front, of me, which doesn’t interest me, regardless of all the row, I just wanted to win. I wanted to face the person that I had in front of me and to fight.”
Asked if it would have been better to pull out beforehand, Carini said: “I am not one that gives in easily. No, even if they had said that we wouldn’t fight, I would never have accepted it. I have a warrior’s mentality. This time I didn’t manage. I felt too much pain on my nose. I said enough.”
“It’s not a defeat for me – for me if you go in the ring you have already won, regardless of everything else. I’m not here to judge. It’s not up to me to say if it’s fair or not fair. I just did my job. I managed to leave with my head held high. I’m a mature woman; when I feel I cannot continue, its not giving in, it’s having the dignity to say enough. I was convinced I would win, I was concentrated, serene. But these punches to the nose hurt, I said enough.”
While Carini has maintained that her decision was purely based on physical pain, the timing of the withdrawal has fueled speculation about the underlying reasons. The incident has raised questions about the fairness of competition and the impact of gender verification policies on women's sports.
Carini said it was “not up to me to judge” whether Khelif should have been barred from the competition. “I did my job.”
Khelif stopped briefly to speak to the BBC: “I am here for gold,” the Algerian said. “I will fight anybody, I will fight them all.”
Reem Alsalem, the UN special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, expressed her concern about what had happened. “Angela Carini rightly followed her instincts and prioritised her physical safety, but she and other female athletes should not have been exposed to this physical and psychological violence based on their sex,” she tweeted.
Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, weighed in, saying: “I think that athletes who have male genetic characteristics should not be admitted to women’s competitions … from my point of view it was not an even contest.”
As the controversy surrounding the match continues to unfold, the boxing world is left grappling with the implications of this extraordinary event.
Reference: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/aug/01/angela-carini-abandons-fight-after-46-seconds-against-imane-khelif#img-1
