By Julien Pretot
PARIS (Reuters) – Algeria fans flocked into Roland Garros looking to support Imane Khelif as the boxer at the centre of a gender dispute at the Olympics prepared for her welterweight semi-final on Tuesday.
A storm erupted over the participation of Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting at the Paris Games with the Algerian’s Italian opponent pulling out of their fight after less than a minute having taken a barrage of punches in their round of 16 bout.
“We are here to support Imane. She deserves the support of the whole country, she has been through so much,” Mohamed Hadji, a 45-year-old computer technician told Reuters as he strolled through the western Paris venue draped in an Algeria flag.
As the sun set on the surrounding tennis grounds, dozens of fans sported caps with the Algeria colours, the most seen at Roland Garros after those of the Ireland contingent, who came to support Kellie Harrington in her women’s 60kg final.
“Poor girl, I hope she (Khelif) will win tonight and go on to win the title, that’s the least she deserves. This whole debate is ridiculous,” said Zineb Kadi, who came with her daughter.
‘UNFAIR AND UNFOUNDED’
Some of the crowd outside the stadium were ululating, with the joyful high-pitched vocal sound usually performed by women in the Arab world at weddings and celebrations reverberating.
Virginie Martinet, a 27-year-old beautician from neighbouring Boulogne, came to watch with an Algeria flag, even though she is not Algerian, in a display for Khelif.
“It’s out of support because I love Algerians and out of support in relation to the controversy,” she told Reuters.
“Racialised women suffer discrimination in sport, like Serena Williams and many others.
“Women athletes who have more developed bodies than other women are not an anomaly. They would have us believe it is a problem but it’s a performance not a problem,” added Martinet.
Ines Mezerreg, 27, an engineer in tech who was born in Paris of Algerian background but who lives in the United States, said: “I got a ticket specifically for Imane Khelif. I got a ticket for my dad and me the minute she won.
“It’s completely unfair and unfounded. But with Algerians we never give up, we have an inner strength and she is representing that. She’s going to win because she deserves it.”
Lin has also reached the semi-finals and will take on Turkey’s Esra Yildiz in a featherweight bout on Wednesday.
(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Additional reporting by Layli Foroudi; Editing by Ken Ferris and Bill Berkrot)
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