The bout between Algerian Imane Khlif and Chinese athlete Liu Yang, held today at the Philippe Chatrier court, the largest venue at Roland Garros, for the finals in the under-66 kg weight category at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, captured the attention of a wide audience, particularly the Algerian community in Europe. It felt as though the capital Paris was experiencing a phenomenon akin to "Khlifmania," as the excitement surrounding Imane Khlif's match resonated throughout the city.
One dual-national Algerian interviewed by the German Press Agency (dpa) at the Stade de France mentioned he came from Germany with his German wife and two sons specifically to watch the semifinal basketball match between the American and Serbian teams on Thursday and to see Khlif's final bout, expressing pride in her achievements.
Yasra searched eagerly for a ticket to the match before finally obtaining one for 200 euros, whereas Yasmine faced bad luck; she attempted to get closer to the Algerian delegation for a ticket but to no avail. Meanwhile, Ahmed persisted until he managed to buy a ticket through resale, reportedly at prices exceeding 500 euros in the black market.
The Philippe Chatrier court is expected to witness unprecedented crowd attendance, having already experienced an electric atmosphere generated by Algerian fans and supporters of Imane Khlif during her semifinal match against Thai competitor Jan Jiem Suwanphan on Tuesday. The presence of international stars and celebrities is also anticipated.
In another note, the German Press Agency observed an unprecedented level of interest from international media regarding Imane Khlif, as the Algerian delegation receives numerous requests daily for interviews, making boxing one of the most prominent stories of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
