Imane Khelif competing in women’s boxing not fair, says Hungarian opponent

Hungarian boxer Anna Luca Hamori says she doesn’t “think it’s fair” that her next opponent, Imane Khelif, is taking part in the women’s category at the Olympics.

Hamori, 23, will face the 25-year-old Algerian in the quarter-finals of the 66kg competition on Saturday.

Khelif is one of two athletes – along with Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting – who have been cleared to compete having been disqualified from last year’s Women’s World Championships after they were said to have failed gender eligibility tests.

The Hungarian Boxing Association has protested against Khelif’s participation at Paris 2024, and the Hungarian Olympic Committee requested talks with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) over the issue.

Kheireddine Barbari, the head of the Algerian delegation at the Paris Olympics, said the Algerian Olympic Committee had filed a complaint with the IOC over the “immoral” campaign against Khelif.

Hamori wrote on social media: “In my humble opinion, I don’t think it’s fair that this contestant can compete in the women’s category.

“But I cannot concern myself with that now. I cannot change it, it’s life.

“I can promise you one thing… I will do my best to win and I will fight as long as I can!”

Hamori has beaten Ireland’s Grainne Walsh and Australian Marissa Williamson to reach the quarter-finals.

She has previously fought at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games and was a silver medallist in the 66kg class at the 2022 European Under-22 Championships.