Imane Khelif's Olympic gold inspires Algerian girls to take up boxing
Algeria's Imane Khelif won an Olympic gold medal in women's boxing, athletes and coaches in the North African nation say national enthusiasm is inspiring newfound interest in the sport, particularly among women.
Khelif's image is practically everywhere, featured in advertisements at airports, on highway billboards and in boxing gyms. The 25-year-old welterweight's success in Paris has vaulted her to national hero status, especially after Algerians rallied behind her in the face of uninformed speculation about her gender and eligibility to compete.
Amateur boxer Zougar Amina, a medical student who's been practicing for a year, called Khelif an idol and role model.
«Since I've been boxing, my personality has changed: I'm more confident, less stressed,» she said, describing the sport as «therapy to fight shyness, to learn to defend myself, to gain self-confidence.»
In Ain Taya, the seaside town east of Algiers where Amina boxes, what local media have termed "Khelifmania" is on full display.
Behind a door wallpapered with a large photograph of the gold medalist, punching bags hang from the ceiling of the local gym, and young girls warm up near a boxing ring surrounded by shelves of masks, gloves and mouth guards.
The 23 young women and girls who train at the gym — an old converted church — all dream of becoming the next Khelif, their coach Malika Abassi said.
Abassi said the women imitate Khelif's post-win celebrations, hopping around the boxing ring and saluting fans. She's worried that the interest in boxing
