Paris Olympics 2024: Angelina Carini Wants To Apologise To Imane Khelif Amidst Olympic Boxing Controversy

Paris Olympics 2024: Italy's Angelina Carini has admitted that she wants to apologize to Algeria's Imane Khelif amidst the Olympic boxing controversy, which happened on Thursday. The 25-year-old boxer left her fight against Khelif within just 46 seconds and revealed that one punch from the Algerian had hurt her too much.

The fight which had ended within 46 seconds had created debates and that let Carini express her views openly. Carini, who had left the bout, revealed the reason and the logic behind her decision. "All this controversy makes me sad," Carini was quoted as saying to the Italian paper Gazetto Daily Sport.

"I'm sorry for my opponent, too. If the IOC said she can fight, I respect that decision", she said. The Italian boxer was left disappointed with the result and realized that leaving the bout was the right decision. But she also expressed her disappointment for not following the sportsmanship by shaking hands with Khelif after the bout.

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"It wasn't something I intended to do. I want to apologize to her and everyone else. I was angry because my Olympics had gone up in smoke", she revealed. She also talked about how if she met Khelif in the future, she would hug her, as this gesture would show her will to move on from the incident. Carini got a punch in the face in the first 30 seconds and then she went towards her coach to get her headgear adjusted. But after she resumed, she once again went into her corner and then decided to leave the fight.

Reacting to the incident, Carini said to BBC, "It could have been the match of a lifetime, but I had to preserve my life as well in that moment." Her decision led to debates around safety and sportsmanship in competitive sports.

The controversy about the fight further intensified after Khelif's presence, whose gender eligibility created a huge uproar. Khelif was given a clearance to participate in the women's boxing event although she was disqualified from the Women's world championships and was thus criticised. She was disqualified as she failed to meet the eligibility criteria, which was set by the IBA.

Irrespective of all these, the IOC backed Khelifs right to participate as spokesperson Mark Adams confirmed her status. "The Algerian boxer was born female, was registered female, lived her life as a female, boxed as a female, has a female passport," Adams said on Friday. Khelif's participation has been proof of her dedication and the IOC's commitment to inclusivity.