Italian Angela Carini has shed light on the crisis that recently broke out with Algerian boxer Iman Khalif, on the sidelines of the fight that brought them together in the 66 kg category, at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, the French capital.
Iman Khalif was able to advance to the quarter-finals of the 66kg boxing competition when Karini was forced to withdraw just 46 seconds into the fight, citing an “unusually hard blow”.
In statements to the Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, Carini apologized for the recent crisis, stressing that: “This controversy saddens me a lot, I am sorry for everyone, and in any case I respect the decisions of the Olympic Committee, if they say that Iman has the right to compete.”
When asked what was the secret to not shaking Iman’s hand after the fight, she replied: “Actually, I didn’t mean to do that. I would like to apologize to her and to everyone who was hurt by this behavior. I was just angry about the end of my Olympic career.”
After the fight ended and Carini’s exit from the Paris 2024 Olympics, she declared this via the Italian Press Agency. “I had never received such a blow before, it was impossible to continue.”
She added saying: “I entered the ring to fight. But I didn’t feel like it anymore after a few seconds. I quickly felt intense pain in my nose, but I didn’t give up and finally decided to retire with my head held high.
