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

2 years 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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Afghanistan thrash Senegal 6-0 to reach Dakar Youth Olympics futsal semi-finals

Afghanistan will face Portugal in the semi-finals on Monday at 3:30 p.m. Afghanistan time.

Published

14 hours ago

November 8, 2026

Ariana News

Afghanistan’s under-18 futsal team stormed into the semi-finals of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games with a commanding 6-0 victory over hosts Senegal on Sunday.

Ali Ahmadi was the star of the match, scoring a hat-trick, while Zakir Hussain Abdullahi, Ahmad Esmaeili and Hussain Hassani also found the net to seal an emphatic win for the Afghan side.

Afghanistan made a flying start, with Ahmadi scoring twice with his left foot to put his team in control. Senegal created several dangerous opportunities in response but were unable to beat Afghan goalkeeper Ahmad Esmaeili.

Zakir Hussain Abdullahi extended Afghanistan’s advantage before the interval, giving the visitors a comfortable lead at half-time.

Senegal came out strongly after the break, needing three goals to keep their hopes of reaching the medal round alive. However, Esmaeili stunned the hosts by scoring from a long clearance that sailed over the opposing players and into the net.

Hussain Hassani added another goal before Ahmadi completed his hat-trick to round off Afghanistan’s impressive performance.

Following the match, Ahmadi expressed his happiness at scoring three goals and praised his team-mates for their support, saying Afghanistan were aiming for the gold medal.

“Our team is playing very well. My team-mates support me and, with the support of Allah, I scored three goals. I feel so happy. Of course, we are coming for the gold medal and, inshallah, we will win it,” he said.

Afghanistan will face Portugal in the semi-finals on Monday at 3:30 p.m. Afghanistan time.

Ariana Television will broadcast the match live and exclusively across Afghanistan.

Sport

Afghanistan’s record partnership highlights fourth day of Test against Zimbabwe

Published

15 hours ago

November 8, 2026

Ariana News

Afghanistan produced a determined batting performance on the fourth day of the one-off Test against Zimbabwe in Sharjah on Sunday, with captain Rahmat Shah and Zia-ur-Rehman setting a new national record for the highest eighth-wicket partnership in Test cricket.

Resuming their innings 102 runs behind Zimbabwe with only three wickets remaining, Rahmat and Zia added 92 runs for the eighth wicket, helping Afghanistan surpass Zimbabwe’s first-innings total of 504 and secure a narrow 10-run lead.

Rahmat Shah led Afghanistan’s resistance with 173 runs from 347 deliveries, recording his second-highest Test score. Zia contributed 15 runs from 99 balls, holding his ground for nearly three hours alongside the Afghanistan captain.

The partnership eventually ended when Blessing Muzarabani dismissed Zia, while Rahmat was later stumped off Graeme Cremer. Newman Nyamhuri then removed Mohammad Saleem to complete his maiden five-wicket haul, bringing Afghanistan’s first innings to a close at 514.

Afghanistan carried their momentum into Zimbabwe’s second innings as Zia-ur-Rehman dismissed Innocent Kaia and Ben Curran, reducing the visitors to 38 for two.

However, Brendan Taylor scored 82 runs to help Zimbabwe recover, while captain Brian Bennett remained unbeaten on 49. Taylor was run out following a mix-up with Bennett, but the Zimbabwe captain and Craig Ervine, who was unbeaten on 20, added an unbroken 44-run partnership.

Zimbabwe ended the fourth day with an overall lead of 154 runs and seven wickets remaining.

Afghanistan will aim to take early wickets on the final day and limit Zimbabwe’s advantage as both teams seek a result in the Sharjah Test.

Sport

Afghanistan begin AFC U17 Asian Cup qualifying campaign with 4-1 win over Myanmar

Published

19 hours ago

November 8, 2026

Ariana News

Afghanistan opened their AFC U17 Asian Cup 2027 qualifying campaign with a convincing 4-1 victory over hosts Myanmar on Sunday.

Mohammad Fahim Hammas scored a hat-trick, while Taib Qaderi also found the net to secure all three points for Afghanistan in their opening Group A match.

Qaderi broke the deadlock in the ninth minute before Hammas doubled Afghanistan’s advantage six minutes later.

Hammas struck again in the 23rd minute, giving Afghanistan a comfortable 3-0 lead at half-time.

The Afghan side continued their dominance after the break, with Hammas completing his hat-trick four minutes into the second half.

Myanmar pulled one goal back in the 56th minute through Thet Naing Oo, who converted a penalty, but Afghanistan held on to claim a comprehensive 4-1 victory.

Afghanistan are grouped with Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines and Cambodia in the tournament. They will face Cambodia in their next match on Wednesday.