Algeria welcomes home Olympic gold boxing champ Imane Khelif
Huge crowds have welcomed home controversial Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif to her native region of Tiaret, southwest of Algiers, after her triumphant return from Paris.
Thousands of people turned out late Friday to greet Algeria's gold-medallist, who was the centre of a gender controversy at the Olympics on her way to the women's 66kg title.
Residents of Tiaret, a city of around 200,000 people 340 kilometres (210 miles) southwest of the capital, gave her a rousing welcome when Imane Khelif appeared with relatives aboard an open-top bus escorted by police.
"I was given a warm welcome today. Every Algerian has the right to rejoice and enjoy themselves," Khelif said.
"Even the president is a fan of Imane Khelif, which proves that the state and the people are backers of sport," she added.
Asked about a complaint that Khelif, 25, had filed with the Paris public prosecutor's office for online harassment, the boxer declined to elaborate.
"This is a day for celebration," she said. "I will address that question at the appropriate time."
Ongoing case
According to US magazine Variety, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk and Harry Potter author JK Rowling have been named in the complaint.
He said Tebboune "has said we will not give up on our rights".
(with AFP)
Read more on RFI English
Read also:
Boxer Cindy Ngamba becomes first refugee athlete to win Olympic medal
France probes alleged cyberbullying of Olympic gender-row boxer Khelif
Photographer shows young French boxers 'full of dreams and determined'
