Is Imane Khelif turning professional? All about the Algerian boxer's plans after winning gold at the Paris Olympics

Imane Khelif has spoken about her plans after a victorious campaign at the Paris Olympics. The Algerian boxer shared that she will be entering the world of professional boxing and has received several offers. However, she has yet to decide on the contract she would like to sign.

Khelif headlined the news during the Paris Olympics after a major controversy erupted after her match against Angela Carini. The Italian boxer forfeited the match in 46 seconds after the initial exchange of punches. This brought about several discussions about Khelif's participation in the Olympics because she was disqualified at the 2023 World Boxing Championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA).

However, the Olympic committee had cleared the boxer to participate in the quadrennial games at the French capital. Imane Khelif persevered through the controversy to win the gold medal at the Paris Olympics. After her maiden Olympic title, Khelif announced a major change in her career, revealing her decision to turn pro.

Speaking about her decision in a press conference, the Algerian boxer said:

"I will soon be entering the world of professional boxing," Khelif said. "I have many offers. At the moment, I haven't decided where I will go pro, but I will take that step very soon. We Algerians would like to see how we perform in the professional arena."

Imane Khelif on the hate campaign at the Paris Olympics

Imane Khelif stars in the 'Olympian Portraits From Around The Globe' - Olympic Games Paris 2024 - Source: Getty

In an interview with a local channel, Imane Khelif spoke about the hate campaign during the Paris Olympics. The Algerian boxer shared how it had impacted her, leading to fear amid her participation in the later stages of the Paris Games.

“There was a big uproar from big politicians around the world, big athletes around the world, and even artists and stars. Elon Musk, Donald Trump, this thing affected me, I'm not lying to you, it affected me. It affected me a lot, it hurt me a lot. I can't describe to you the amount of fear I had,” she said.

“I was afraid, but thank God, I was able to overcome this stage. Thanks to the specialist who helped me overcome this stage. And what can I say about this stage, it won't be enough. It was a very difficult stage, the scenario was very scary," she added.

Khelif thanked the people of Algeria for their constant support which helped her overcome the tough situation and win the gold medal.