PARIS — Boxer Imane Khelif of Algeria advanced to the gold medal bout in the women’s welterweight division at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday night, moving one win away from what she calls the best response to the worldwide scrutiny she has faced over misconceptions about her gender.
With one more victory, Khelif would win Algeria’s second boxing gold medal and its first in women’s boxing.
Khelif defeated Janjaem Suwannapheng of Thailand 5-0 in the semifinals at Roland Garros, where the crowd roared and chanted her name throughout her three-round fight. Khelif has won three consecutive bouts in Paris, and she will win either a gold or a silver medal when she completes the tournament on Friday against Yang Liu of China.
“I am very happy,” Khelif said through an interpreter. “I’ve worked eight years for these Olympics, and I’m very proud of this moment. I would like to thank the support from people back home.”
Khelif had already clinched Algeria’s first medal in women’s boxing before she stepped into the ring to rousing roars at Court Philippe Chatrier. She controlled her bout with Suwannapheng, who took a standing eight count late in the third after absorbing a series of punches.
“My opponent was really good,” Khelif said. “But I trained for two weeks, and I learned how she fought…
