Italian boxer, Angela Carini ‘wants to apologise’ to Imane Khelif after bout controversy
Italian boxer Angela Carini has said she ‘wants to apologise’ to Algeria’s Imane Khelif following their women’s 66kg bout at the Paris Olympics.
Carini, who was defeated by Khelif in just 46 seconds, had refused to shake hands and broke down in tears after the fight.
Carini cited severe pain from a nose injury as the reason for her decision to stop the match.
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In an interview with Italian daily Gazzetta, she expressed regret over her actions and the ensuing controversy.
Angela Carini stated that she was “sad for my opponent” and clarified that her refusal to shake hands was not intentional.
“I want to apologize to her and everyone else. I was angry because my Olympics had gone up in smoke,” Carini said. She reaffirmed that while she stood by her decision to stop the fight, the lack of a handshake was an emotional reaction rather than a deliberate slight.
The controversy surrounding Khelif and Lin Yu-ting, who were both disqualified from the 2023 World Boxing Championships, has added to the tension.
Despite being disqualified by the International Boxing Association (IBA), both athletes are competing in the Paris Games under the International Olympic Committee (IOC) regulations.
The IOC has emphasized that Khelif and Lin comply with current competition eligibility rules, and the disqualification by the IBA was deemed arbitrary.
IOC spokesperson Mark Adams assured that all athletes, including Khelif and Lin, meet the necessary criteria for participation in the Olympic Games.
