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Time of India
3 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Is Imane Khelif male or female? It's a little more complicated
Imane Khelif (Image credit: Instagram) Let's talk about Imane Khelif — Olympic champ, national hero, and, lately, the center of one of the messiest gender debates in sports. She's a powerhouse in the ring, no doubt. But when it comes to how people define her outside the ropes? Well, that's where things get a bit tricky. Imane Khelif's rise is the kind of underdog story people love. She grew up in Tiaret, Algeria, and didn't exactly have the easiest road to success. But that didn't stop her. She punched her way to the top, snagging silver at the 2022 World Championship and gold at the African Championship that same year. Fast forward to the 2024 Paris Olympics, and boom — gold medal in the women's 66kg boxing category. First Algerian woman to ever do it. That win? Huge. When she got home, it was straight-up movie stuff. Cheering crowds, people waving flags, her riding on top of a city bus like a national treasure. Algeria was proud — and they had every reason to be. But just as her star was rising, the noise around her gender identity started to get loud. Really loud. Back in 2023, at the World Championships in New Delhi, things took a turn. The International Boxing Association (IBA) disqualified Khelif, saying she didn't meet their gender eligibility rules. Why? They claimed she had XY chromosomes — which, biologically, are usually associated with males. Social media exploded. People had questions, opinions, and let's be honest — a lot of judgments. But then the International Olympic Committee (IOC) stepped in, looked at the same case, and said: 'She's good to go.' Their stance was clear — Khelif was born female, lives as a woman, and holds a female passport. For the IOC, that was enough. They even accused the IBA of botching the whole thing and maybe spreading misinformation. Still, the story wouldn't die. In 2025, things got even more complicated. Leaked medical documents suggested that, yes, Khelif might have XY chromosomes after all. That reignited the whole debate — not just about her, but about sports in general. What makes someone eligible to compete as a woman? Is it your chromosomes? Hormones? Lived experience? Gender identity? That's when the World Boxing Federation (which will be running the show at the 2028 LA Olympics) decided, 'Alright, everyone's getting genetically tested from now on.' That includes Khelif. She'll have to go through it all over again if she wants to keep boxing at the top level. Through all of it, Khelif hasn't backed down She filed criminal complaints in France against people and outlets spreading what she called lies about her. The whole situation has been emotionally exhausting for her. She's spoken out about how damaging and cruel the whole ordeal has been — not just to her, but to other athletes who find themselves caught in similar crossfires. She's not just fighting for medals anymore. She's fighting for her identity. So, what's the truth? Honestly? It depends on who you ask. If you're going strictly by biology, and those documents are accurate, then yes — she might have XY chromosomes. But gender is more than just chromosomes. It's how you live, how you see yourself, and how society treats you. And by all those standards, Khelif is a woman. But sports don't always handle that complexity well. They want clear lines, clear rules. The problem is — people aren't always so clear-cut. Some say that allowing someone with male chromosomes to compete in women's boxing is unfair, that it creates a physical advantage. Others argue that identity and lived experience matter just as much, if not more, and that we need more inclusive rules that reflect today's understanding of gender. Imane Khelif's story isn't just about one woman in the ring. It's about the entire system of how we define gender in sports — and who gets to draw those lines. She's forced the world to reckon with tough questions. What does 'fair' even mean in a sport like boxing? Who gets to decide which bodies are allowed where? And is it possible to make space for both fairness and inclusion? There's no easy answer. But there's one thing we can say for sure: Khelif isn't just fighting opponents anymore. She's fighting a system, a culture, and a moment in time that still doesn't quite know how to deal with athletes like her. So, is Imane Khelif male or female? Biologically, she might have traits typically associated with males. But socially, legally, and personally — she's a woman. And she's made that clear over and over again. In the world of boxing, where everything comes down to weight classes, timing, and strength, gender isn't supposed to be this complicated. But Khelif's story proves that it is. And until sports find a better way to handle that complexity, stories like hers will keep grabbing headlines — and maybe, changing minds. Regardless of where you stand, one thing's for sure: Imane Khelif is a fighter, through and through. And her biggest fight might just be outside the ring.
Morocco World
17-03-2025
- Sport
- Morocco World
Who Is Widad Bertal, the Moroccan Boxer Who Won Gold at the World Championships?
Rabat – Moroccan boxer Widad Bertal won the gold medal in the 54kg category at the Women's World Boxing Championships in Nis, Serbia on Sunday. Her victory added another major achievement to her already impressive career. After her win, Bertal expressed her joy and dedicated her gold medal to King Mohammed VI – calling him the 'first sportsman' – as well as to the Moroccan people. She also thanked Jouad Belhaj, the president of the Royal Moroccan Boxing Federation, along with her national team coaches and her club, Energic Boxing Club. 'This gold medal is for the first sportsman, His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the Moroccan people, and everyone who supported me,' Bertal told SNRTnews following her win. Bertal's road to the world title was not easy. She missed an important training camp in Belgrade due to an injury but was able to resume preparation in Montenegro. Her hard work paid off as she dominated her opponents in the tournament and eventually defeated Turkey's Hatice Akbas in the final match. Born on August 31, 1999, Bertal is no stranger to success. She has already won the African Championship three times in a row, in 2022, 2023, and 2024. She also won one of the bronze medals at the 2022 African Amateur Boxing Championships held in Maputo, Mozambique. For Bertal, 'This is just the beginning' and she is keen on achieving further success and winning more titles. In addition to Bertal's victory, Morocco also celebrated the bronze medal Sanaa Larti won in the 81kg category. Speaking about the team's performance, Nabil Hilmi, the Vice President of the Royal Moroccan Boxing Federation, commended both boxers for their achievements. 'Winning these medals was not easy, even though our goal was to achieve more,' Hilmi said. He noted that Morocco was close to winning two more medals, but faced tough challenges, including a lack of experience and difficult draws against top-ranked fighters. Hilmi noted the need for continued effort and a collaborative approach to ensure Moroccan boxing remains competitive on the world stage. 'We hope to build on this success and achieve even better results in the future for both the men's and women's teams,' he said.
Al-Ahram Weekly
18-02-2025
- Sport
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Third in first appearance - Sports - Al-Ahram Weekly
The Egyptian Under-23 wheelchair basketball team reached a new milestone by securing third place at the African Championship, following a 45-23 victory over Kenya, reports Abeer Anwar The bronze medal marked a promising start just two weeks after the official establishment of the Egyptian Wheelchair Basketball Federation and set the stage for future success, with hopes of claiming gold in the coming years. The accomplishment also stands as a testament to the hard work of the team and coaching staff, led by May ZainElDein, as well as the support of the Egyptian Wheelchair Basketball Federation. South Africa snatched the gold medal after beating Libya in the final 51-38. Participating countries were South Africa (host), Egypt, Kenya, Libya, DR Congo and Liberia. Egypt advanced to the semi-finals after finishing third in their group, trailing South Africa, the group leader, and Libya, which secured second place. Despite their efforts, Egypt narrowly lost to Libya in the semi-final 35-33 which set up the third-place decider against Kenya. Throughout the tournament, the Egyptian team showcased remarkable poise. They began with a 47-34 loss to South Africa but bounced back with a dominant 68-7 win over Kenya. This was followed by a solid 59-31 victory against the Democratic Republic of Congo. In the fourth round, Egypt suffered a close 38-35 defeat to Libya but secured a commanding 70-11 victory over Liberia in their final group-stage match, guaranteeing their place in the semi-finals. In a nail-biting semi-final clash, Libya held their nerve to secure a thrilling 35-33 victory over Egypt. Egypt then claimed the bronze after beating Kenya 45-23. The Egyptian squad comprised Yassin Kamal, Abdullah Hamada, Abdel-Rahman Salah, Youssef Sayed, Ziad Abdel-Rahim, Moamen Abou Rawash Mustafa, Omar Saad, Ayman Abdel-Alim, Abdel-Rahman Mohamed, Hamed Essam, Osama Samir, and Adham Ahmed. The team's technical staff included head coach Mohamed Gamal and assistant coach Mohamed Farag, along with support from Hesham Mahmoud (technical maintenance), Al-Hassan Sedky (players representative), Rashed Hassanein (administrative delegate), and Yaken Abu Bakr (team doctor). Additionally, the delegation was accompanied by a refereeing team consisting of Mahmoud Ibrahim, Maram Mohamed, Aya Khaled and Ahmed Mahmoud. Lamise Negm is the treasurer while the members are Mahmoud Abdel- Aziz, Adel Sherif, Zein Al-Etnawi, Amr Fouad, Iman Karim and Alaa Al-Nadi. The Egyptian delegation was led by May ZainElDein, president of the new Egyptian Wheelchair Basketball Federation and executive manager of Al-Hassan Foundation for Differently Abled Inclusion since 2013. ZainElDein assumed leadership of the federation just days before the championship, marking a significant milestone in the sport's development in Egypt. In addition to her role as president of the North Africa Region at the African Wheelchair Basketball Federation since 2023, she has also been a member of the National Council for Childhood and Maternity since 2024. The support of Egypt's Minister of Youth and Sports Ashraf Sobhi and his team at the ministry played a crucial role in making third place possible. Al-Hassan Sedki, whose foundation was named after him, and who is the African athletes representative in the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation, was also a source of inspiration. ZainElDein reflected on the team's historic achievement, emphasising both the challenges and aspirations for the sport's future in Egypt. 'This is the first time Egypt has formed an Under-23 wheelchair basketball team, and our players, being so young and inexperienced at the international level, faced a steep learning curve. Our loss to Libya reflected that, but it also underscores our mission as a federation to cultivate and develop talent for the future. 'Of course, we are confronted with significant challenges, particularly in securing sponsorship. Wheelchair basketball is an exceptionally costly sport, with specialised equipment such as sports wheelchairs being highly expensive. In the coming period, we will work tirelessly to secure the necessary funding and resources,' ZainElDein said. 'I extend my deepest gratitude to Dr Hossameddin Mustafa, president of the Egyptian Paralympic Committee, whose unwavering belief in our potential was instrumental in our journey, especially when certain board members of the Egyptian Paralympic Committee (EPC) initially opposed our participation. I am also profoundly grateful to Dr Ashraf Sobhi who personally listened to our young players, heard their aspirations, and took decisive action. In less than 48 hours, he officially announced the establishment of the Egyptian Wheelchair Basketball Federation, effectively saving Egypt from being banned from African competitions.' Given that their participation was nearly in doubt until the last minute, standing on the podium was a remarkable achievement. 'Looking ahead, we have ambitious plans. We aim to establish both an Under-25 women's team and a senior women's national team, alongside our existing Under-23 and senior men's teams. Additionally, we intend to divide Egypt into regional hubs - Upper Egypt, Lower Egypt, the Delta, and beyond - where we will collaborate with major clubs such as Ahly, Zamalek, Sporting, Smouha, and others to develop wheelchair basketball teams. A strong, structured national league will be the foundation for selecting the finest players for our national squads. 'We are fortunate to have an exceptionally competent board comprising former bankers, corporate social responsibility experts, business leaders, experienced coaches, and referees. Our vision is to establish this federation as a well-structured, professionally managed institution, one that can effectively attract sponsorships and drive awareness in an innovative and impactful manner,' ZainElDein said. ZainElDein's journey in advocacy and sports inclusion began in 2011, following a life-changing accident that left her son, Al-Hassan Sedki, paralysed. Determined to support individuals with physical disabilities, she left behind her long-established career to found Al-Hassan Foundation in 2012. Since then, she has dedicated herself to empowering differently abled individuals and athletes, working tirelessly to promote their integration into society and create opportunities for them to thrive. Vice President of the Egyptian Wheelchair Basketball Federation Adel Selim hailed the achievement as an unprecedented milestone. 'This accomplishment is particularly extraordinary given that there is no domestic league for this age category in Egypt. The team was assembled and trained under extremely challenging conditions over just the past five months. Moreover, they had no international matches or tournaments to prepare for this continental competition, making their success even more remarkable. 'The team faced numerous challenges before participating in the championship, chief among them being the complete self-funding of their training camps, preparations, and all travel expenses. Adding to the difficulty was the unexpected decision to withdraw from the tournament just a week before departure. However, the intervention of Minister of Youth and Sports Dr Ashraf Sobhi proved crucial. He met with the players, listened to their concerns, encouraged them, and made the decisive call to send the team to compete. This intervention came just in time, preventing the African Federation from removing Egypt from continental activities due to non-participation,' Adel Selim said. 'Special thanks are also due to the coaching staff led by Dr Mohamed Gamal and captain Mohamed Farag, as well as all my colleagues in the Egyptian Wheelchair Basketball Federation.' Egypt's captain Zeyad Abdel-Rehim expressed his immense pride following the team's remarkable achievement at the African Championship. 'I am incredibly proud to be part of the Egyptian wheelchair basketball team that secured the bronze medal in this prestigious competition. This victory is especially meaningful to me as it marks my final year with the U-23 squad before transitioning to the men's national team. It was an unforgettable experience to compete alongside my teammates, who gave their all under the guidance of our dedicated coach to claim this hard-earned medal. 'Adding to my excitement, I was honoured to be named the best player of the tournament. This achievement further fuels my optimism about the future of wheelchair basketball in Egypt, particularly with the establishment of the Egyptian Wheelchair Basketball Federation, a long-awaited dream finally realised. I have no doubt that the federation's leadership will work diligently to develop the sport and expand its reach across all governorates. I would also like to extend my gratitude to Dr Ashraf Sobhi for his unwavering support and commitment to making our aspirations a reality. As for my personal dream, I hope to one day play professionally and join a club in Europe or the United States, further honing my skills and representing Egypt on the international stage,' Abdel-Rehim said. * A version of this article appears in print in the 20 February, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Short link:
