TWO of the most talked about athletes in the Paris Olympics are vying for the gold just before the greatest sports showcase in the world comes to a close over the weekend.
Imane Khelif of Algeria and Lin Yu-ting of Chinese Taipei both advanced to the gold-medal round of their respective weight classes in women's boxing.
Khelif will be the first to take a shot at Olympic glory when she climbs the ring on Saturday morning (Manila time) against Yang Liu of China in the 66 kg final.
READ IOC laments 'abuse' on boxers Imane Khelif, Lin Yu-ting
She will become the first Algerian women boxer to win a gold if ever she beats Yang.
Lin meanwhile, is in the same boat in the women's 57 kg class where she faces Julia Szeremeta of Poland in the finals set Sunday morning (Manila time).
The 20-year-old Szeremeta ousted Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Nesthy Petecio in their semifinal clash, 3-2.
Both Khelif and Lin have come under increased scrutiny since the start of the Olympics after being disqualified from last year's World Championships in New Delhi for failing their respective gender tests.
Lin was stripped of her bronze medal, while Khelif was no longer allowed to climb the ring hours before her gold-medal match.
The IBA (International Boxing Association) which supervised the world meet, claimed Khelif and Lin were both disqualified since their 'chromosome tests' showed they are ineligible to fight.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) though, allowed the two boxers to compete since they were able to comply with all Olympic rules.
The controversy naturally, put Khelif and Lin in the spotlight, more so after going deep into the competition.
It didn't help that Khelif's Italian foe Angela Carini abandoned their preliminary round match just 46 seconds in due to pain brought about by the Algerian's punches.
Carini apologizes
Carini, who didn't shake hands with Khelif when the Algerian was pronounced the winner, later apologized to her tormentor.
There were also cases where opponents of Khelif and Lin would make the X sign after losing their bouts in obvious reference to the questions about the two boxers' gender.
Ezra Yildiz Kahraman of Turkey did the gesture after a 5-0 loss to Lin in the semis.
Wonder if the act would be repeated again should the two finally win the gold medal?
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