Italian boxer Angelina Carini abandoned Olympic fight in 46 seconds
Italian boxer Angela Carini broke down in tears after she abandoned her bout against Algerian Imane Khelif after 46 seconds in a fight that sparked huge controversy at the Olympics.
Italian boxer Angelina Carini abandoned her welterweight round of 16 bout against Algeria's Imane Khelif after 46 seconds on Thursday, August 1 at the Paris Olympics. Carini said that she does not consider the results of the bout as a defeat to her name, while many believe that the call was made due to Khelif’s previous record of failing a gender eligibility test at the 2023 World Championships.
Khelif is one of two boxers permitted to fight at the Olympics despite being disqualified from the women’s world championships last year for failing testosterone and gender eligibility tests.In highly-charged scenes at the North Paris Arena, Carini revealed afterwards that she had pulled out after after being hit harder than she had ever been hit before. A first punch dislodged her chinstrap and a second smashed against her chin and bloodied her shorts.
Italian boxer Angelina Carini : “I am heartbroken,” . “I went to the ring to honour my father. I was told a lot of times that I was a warrior but I preferred to stop for my health. I have never felt a punch like this.”
📷Algeria's Imane Khelif (left) and Angela Carini of Italy after their curtailed boxing bout.
Photograph: Mohd Rasfan/AFP/Getty Images
“After the second punch, after years of experience, I felt a strong pain in the nose. I said enough, because I didn’t want. I couldn’t finish the fight after the punch to the nose. So it was better to put an end to it.
Italian boxer Angelina Carini :“I am in pieces because I am a fighter, they taught me to be a warrior. I have always tried to behave with honour, I have always represented my country with loyalty. This time I didn’t manage to because I couldn’t fight any more. Regardless of the person I had in front, of me, which doesn’t interest me, regardless of all the row, I just wanted to win. I wanted to face the person that I had in front of me and to fight.”
The Algerian Olympic Committee said on Wednesday it “strongly condemns the unethical targeting and maligning of our esteemed athlete, Imane Khelif, with baseless propaganda from certain foreign media outlets” adding: “Such attacks on her personality and dignity are deeply unfair, especially as she prepares for the pinnacle of her career at the Olympics. The COA has taken all necessary measures to protect our champion.”