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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Sport

Toofan Herat beat Khurasan Faryab 2–1 in Afghanistan Champions League

Published

10 hours ago

September 24, 2026

Ariana News

Toofan Herat secured a 2–1 victory over Khurasan Faryab in the Afghanistan Champions League on Thursday, earning three points in the sixth season of the competition.

Enayatullah Kohi was named Man of the Match in Thursday’s game.

The result gives Toofan a second win of the campaign after the Herat side opened the season with a 3–1 victory over Istiqlal Kabul.

Toofan subsequently lost 2–0 to Ariana Khost and 3–1 to Sorkh Poshan Khafi before returning to winning ways against Khurasan.

The sixth season of the Afghanistan Champions League features 10 teams and is being played in a two-stage, home-and-away format, with the competition scheduled to run until November 21.

Ariana Radio and Television Network (ATN) is broadcasting all Afghanistan Champions League matches live and exclusively in Afghanistan. Fans can follow ATN’s social media platforms for schedules, results, updates and highlights.

Sport

Afghanistan Champions League: Ariana Khost beat Sarsabz Yashlar 2–1

Published

11 hours ago

September 24, 2026

Ariana News

Ariana Khost defeated Sarsabz Yashlar Faryab 2–1 in the 20th match of the sixth season of Afghanistan Champions League Roshan on Thursday in Kabul.

Neither side managed to find the net in the first half despite several attempts, with the opening 45 minutes ending goalless.

In the second half, Sarsabz Yashlar defender Feroz Rahmani accidentally headed the ball into his own net while attempting to clear it in the 74th minute, giving Ariana Khost the lead.

Three minutes later, Waris Shirzai doubled Ariana Khost’s advantage in the 77th minute.

Sarsabz Yashlar pulled one back in the 87th minute when Farid Ahmad Hussainzada scored a spectacular long-range goal, but Ariana Khost held on to secure a 2–1 victory.

Ariana Khost’s Alireza Rahimi was named Player of the Match after an impressive performance.

Ariana Khost will face Sorkh Poshan Khafi on September 28, while Sarsabz Yashlar will take on Arman FC on the same day.

The sixth season of the Roshan Afghanistan Champions League is being broadcast live on Ariana Television.

Sport

Afghanistan open Asian Games cricket campaign with win over Japan

The reigning Asian Games silver medalists posted 129 runs before bowling Japan out for 81 at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin.

Published

19 hours ago

September 24, 2026

Ariana News

Afghanistan began their men’s cricket campaign at the 2026 Asian Games with a 48-run victory over hosts Japan in Nagoya on Thursday.

The reigning Asian Games silver medalists posted 129 runs before bowling Japan out for 81 at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin.

Arab Gul was Afghanistan’s leading bowler with four wickets for eight runs, while Nangeyalia Kharote claimed three for 19 as Afghanistan took control of the match after Japan reached 53 for three in the eighth over.

Japan lost their final eight wickets for just 28 runs.

Reo Sakurano-Thomas top-scored for Japan with 23, while Benjamin Ito-Davis made a quick 17 from eight balls.

Earlier, Afghanistan opener Mohammad Akram scored 34 from 29 balls, while captain Darwish Rasooli made 29 and Karim Janat contributed 21.

Mohammad Ishaq finished unbeaten on 25 from 17 deliveries to help Afghanistan set Japan a target of 130.

The match also marked the international debut of Hassan Eisakhil, son of veteran Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi. Eisakhil was dismissed leg before wicket for three.

Afghanistan will face Nepal in their second Group A match on Friday, September 25, also at Korogi Sports Park.

Tournament format

The men’s cricket competition features 10 teams and is being played in the T20 format.

Six teams are competing in the preliminary group stage, with Afghanistan, Japan and Nepal in Group A, while Hong Kong, China, Malaysia and Oman form Group B.

Each team in the preliminary stage plays the other teams in its group once. The top two teams from each group advance to the quarter-finals, where they will meet India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, who received direct entry to the knockout stage.

The quarter-finals are scheduled for September 28 and 29, followed by the semi-finals on October 1.

The bronze-medal match and gold-medal final will both be played on October 3.

All men’s cricket matches are being played at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Aichi.

Afghanistan entered the tournament as the silver medallists from the previous Asian Games, where India won gold and Bangladesh took bronze.

The Afghanistan squad is captained by Darwish Rasooli and includes experienced players such as Karim Janat and Najibullah Zadran, alongside several young players. Mohammad Akram earned his place after impressive domestic league campaigns, while Ismat Alam also joined the squad after being named best player following a domestic league.

Other notable players competing at the Asian Games include India’s Shreyas Iyer and Abhishek Sharma, Nepal’s Dipendra Singh Airee, Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan and Bangladesh’s Litton Das.

Afghanistan will be looking to build on Thursday’s victory when they take on Nepal on Friday, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake