EGN NEWS DESK
PARIS — Italian boxer Angela Carini got here to the Paris Olympics aiming for a medal to honor her late father and coach, who died shortly after she participated within the Tokyo Games three years in the past.
But Carini’s efficiency in Paris lasted simply 46 seconds Thursday earlier than she deserted her bout towards Algerian opponent Imane Khelif, with a spot of blood on her trunks.
Even although Carini stated she wasn’t making a political assertion about Khelif, who was disqualified from final yr’s world championships after failing an unspecified gender eligibility take a look at, the transfer reopened debate about Khelif’s standing.
Who is Angela Carini?
The 25-year-old Carini competes within the 66-kilogram (145.5-pound) class, in any other case often known as welterweight. She gained silver medals at each the world and European championships in 2019.
She was additionally a gold medalist on the European youth championships. She misplaced her opening battle in Tokyo.
Carini’s nickname, “tiger,” was given to her by her father, Giuseppe.
What’s her background?
Carini was an Italian champion in clay pigeon capturing earlier than she switched to boxing. She made the swap to comply with her brother, who additionally left capturing for boxing.
“My brother and my father taught me boxing,” Carini stated. “I owe the whole lot to them.”
What occurred in her battle towards Khelif?
Carini exchanged just a few brisk punches earlier than abandoning her bout — a particularly uncommon prevalence in Olympic boxing. Carini didn’t shake Khelif’s hand after the referee formally raised it. She cried within the ring after sinking to her knees.
Her actions sparked a dialogue far past Paris about whether or not Khelif ought to have been allowed to compete after failing an unspecified gender eligibility take a look at from the now-banned International Boxing Association. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni mentioned the problem with IOC president Thomas Bach throughout a gathering in Paris on Friday.
The IOC has repeatedly defended Khelf’s proper to compete this week.
“Despite our requests to have certainties and ensures, each for the protection of our athlete and for the regularity of the competitors, they’ve confirmed that (Khelif) is inside these parameters,” Italian Olympic Committee president Giovanni Malagò stated.
Why did she give up?
Afterward, a still-tearful Carini stated she give up due to the ache from Khelif’s opening punches, including that her nostril bled afterward.
“My face and nostril had been hurting,” Carini stated, in keeping with the Italian sports activities each day Gazzetta dello Sport. “I couldn’t breathe anymore. I considered my household, I checked out my brother within the stands and I went to my nook to retire. … I’ve by no means been hit with such a robust punch.”
Carini added that it wasn’t a pre-meditated transfer.
“All this controversy makes me unhappy,” Carini stated. “I’m sorry for my opponent, too. … If the IOC stated she will be able to battle, I respect that call.”
Carini was apologetic for not shaking Khelif’s hand after the bout.
“It wasn’t one thing I supposed to do,” Carini stated. “Actually, I need to apologize to her and everybody else. I used to be offended as a result of my Olympics had gone up in smoke. I don’t have something towards Khelif. Actually, if I had been to satisfy her once more I might embrace her.”
