Sport

There is no doubt Olympic boxers in gender dispute are women, IOC’s Bach says

“We are talking about women’s boxing. We have two boxers who were born as women, raised as women, who have passports as wo men and who have competed for many years as women and this is a clear definition of a woman,” Thomas Bach told a press conference.

Published

1 year ago

August 4, 2024

Ariana News

Algerian boxer Imane Khelif and Taiwan’s double world champion Lin Yu-ting are women who have every right to compete at the Paris Olympics despite a gender dispute that has overshadowed their competitions, the International Olympic Committee president said on Saturday, Reuters reported.

The pair were cleared to compete in Paris despite being disqualified at the 2023 World Championships after failing International Boxing Association eligibility rules that prevent athletes with male XY chromosomes competing in women’s events.

The IOC last year stripped the IBA of its status as boxing’s governing body over governance issues, and took charge of the Paris 2024 boxing competition.

“There was never any doubt about them being women.”

The IOC has said the IBA decision to disqualify them last year was arbitrary and the main cause for the furore that has swept social media and seen people such as J. K. Rowling and Elon Musk voice their opposition to them competing in the Games.

Khelif pummelled Angela Carini in the round of 16 of their welterweight bout on Thursday before the Italian stopped after 46 seconds, with the Algerian’s dominant performance further fanning the debate. The IBA on Friday promised to pay the defeated athlete $50,000 in prize money, read the report.

On Saturday there was far less drama in a more even bout with Khelif beating Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori by unanimous points decision to move into the last four and ensure Algeria’s first Olympic boxing medal since 2000.

Khelif broke down in tears as she climbed through the ropes with her coaches holding her up.

“It is hard, she has suffered a lot – as a child and now as a champion, she has suffered so much during these Games,” said Mohamed Chaoua, one of her coaches. “Where is the humanity? Where are the associations for women’s rights? She is a victim.”

Bach said the IBA’s position was part of what he said was a defamation campaign. The IBA did not immediately respond to a request for a comment, read the report.

“What we have seen from the Russian side and in particular from international federation from which we had to withdraw the recognition, that they have undertaken way before these Games a defamation campaign against France, against the Games, against the IOC,” Bach said.

IBA President Umar Kremlev, a Russian, has repeatedly posted inflammatory comments on social media against both Bach and the IOC for the decision to allow them to compete.

“I would ask everybody to respect these women, to respect them as women and as human beings,” Bach said. “When you speak about human rights then you have the human right of every woman to participate in a women’s competition.”

Khelif’s father Amar told Reuters he was proud of his daughter and backed her to win a medal for Algeria.

Bach said the IOC wanted to keep boxing in the Olympics but a new global body had to be created.

“Very clearly yes,” he said when asked if he wanted to see boxing in future Olympics.

“Boxing is one of the most global sports, a sport with very high social values. In any country many boxers tend to come from underprivileged parts of society and boxing offers them many opportunities not only on the field of play but also off the field of play.”

He said that was also true for women and Khelif was proof of that.

“This why it is even more deplorable with what is happening with Imane on social media. Because she has made it very clear that she is standing for the rights of women in her country.”

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Police detain organiser of Messi visit after Indian fans rip up seats

Published

8 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Ariana News

Lionel Messi’s tour of India kicked off chaotically on Saturday as fans threw objects, ripped up seats and invaded the pitch at Kolkata’s Salt Lake stadium after the Argentine soccer great made only a brief appearance at a ticketed event.

Satadru Dutta, the event’s chief organiser, has been detained by police, said Rajeev Kumar, director general of West Bengal police, Reuters reported.

Messi was scheduled for a 45-minute visit to the stadium, but his appearance lasted just 20 minutes. Tickets for the event were priced from around 3,500 rupees ($38.65) – more than half of average weekly income in India – but one fan said he had paid $130.

Fans in the Salt Lake stadium in the capital of the Eastern state of West Bengal threw ripped-up seats and other objects onto the field, while several people climbed a fence around the field and hurled objects.

“I can’t believe there was so much mismanagement,” said Eddie Lal Hmangaihzuala, who had travelled nearly 1,500 km from Mizoram over two days to attend the event.

“Messi left quickly, I think he felt unsafe. I hardly got a glimpse of him,” he told Reuters.

The organisers of the tour did not immediately respond to a request for a comment.

“We’ve already detained the main organiser,” Rajeev Kumar told reporters. “We’re taking action so that this mismanagement does not go unpunished.

“He has already pledged in writing that tickets sold for the event should be refunded,” he added.

CHIEF MINISTER APOLOGISES, ORDERS PROBE

Messi is in India as part of a tour during which he is scheduled to attend concerts, youth football clinics and a padel tournament, and to launch charitable initiatives at events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi.

The chief minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, apologised to Messi and ordered a probe into the incident.

“I am deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed today at Salt Lake stadium,” Banerjee, who was on her way to the event when chaos broke out, posted on X.

“I sincerely apologise to Lionel Messi, as well as to all sports lovers and his fans, for the unfortunate incident,” she said.

She said she was constituting a committee to conduct a detailed enquiry into the incident, assign responsibility, and recommend measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.

West Bengal, Kerala and Goa states have long had large soccer followings in otherwise cricket-crazed India.

Multiple incidents of fan riots have taken place at Salt Lake stadium, including during a Kolkata derby match between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan in 2012 which was abandoned after a brick thrown from the stands hit a player, seriously injuring him.

Argentine soccer great Diego Maradona twice visited Kolkata, and in 2017 unveiled a statue there of himself holding the World Cup in the presence of thousands of fans.

Messi, who captained Argentina for the first time in a friendly match at the Salt Lake stadium in a 1-0 win over Venezuela in 2011, virtually unveiled a 70-foot statue of himself in Kolkata earlier on Saturday.

Sport

ACL: Jawanan Perozi 1-0 Arman FC; Abu Muslim Farah 2-0 Sarsabz Yashlar

Published

24 hours ago

December 13, 2025

Ariana News

In the 37th match of the fifth season of the Afghanistan Champions League, Jawanan Perozi defeated Arman FC 1-0, securing a well-earned victory.

In the 38th match, held on Saturday, Abu Muslim Farah triumphed 2-0 over Sarsabz Yashlar in an exciting contest.

Monday’s fixtures will continue with two more matches:

In the 39th match, Khurasan Faryab will face Sorkh Poshan Khafi at 10:00 AM.
In the 40th match, Aino Mina will take on Sarafan Herat at 1:30 PM.

All matches will be broadcast live on Ariana Television, allowing football fans across the country to follow every moment of the excitement and intensity of the new season of the Afghanistan Champions League.

Sport

Victories for Sorkh Poshan Khafi and Abu Muslim Farah in Afghanistan Champions League

Published

3 days ago

December 11, 2025

Ariana News

In the 33rd match of the fifth season of the Afghanistan Champions League, Sorkh Poshan Khafi delivered a solid performance to defeat Jawanan Perozi with a decisive 2–0 victory.

In the 34th match of the competition, held on Thursday, Abu Muslim Farah also put on an impressive display, overcoming Ettifaq Khanzadah with a 3–1 win and adding two more valuable points to their tally.

The competition continues tomorrow (Friday) with two more matches:

In the 35th match, Khurasan Faryab will face Aino Mina at 10:00 AM.
In the 36th match, Istiqlal Kabul will take on Ettifaq Khanzadah at 1:30 PM.

All matches are broadcast live on Ariana Television, allowing football fans across the country to follow every moment of the excitement and intensity of the new season of the Afghanistan Champions League.