Algerian boxer looking for Olympic gold in gender competition, Thierry Henry looks set to make French footballers proud.
PARIS: Algerian boxer Iman Khalif, who is at the center of the Olympic race for gender qualification, will go for gold in Paris on Friday as Thierry Henry tries to lead France's footballers to glory.
With just three days to go until the Games, there is a packed athletics schedule at the Stade de France.
The boxing competition is overshadowed by a bitter row over whether Khaleef and Taiwanese fighter Lin Yu-ting should be allowed to compete in the women's division.
Khalif and Lin were banned from last year's world championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA) after failing gender-specific eligibility tests, but he and Lin were cleared to compete in Paris.
The International Olympic Committee administers boxing in the French capital, which is being held at Roland Garros, the home of French tennis.
Khalif and Lin, 25, both fought at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, but there was no controversy then and neither won a medal.
On Friday, Algeria's Khalif faces China's Yang Liu in the 66kg final, while Lin moves in another weight on Saturday.
Chants of “Iman, Iman” rang out repeatedly before and during Khalifa's semi-final bout on Tuesday as the crowd showed their support for the boxer.
“I'm like all athletes, I'm here to achieve my dream,” he said.
The penultimate evening of athletics includes the men's and women's 4x100m relay, the men's 400m hurdles, the women's 400m and the final event of the heptathlon, the 800m.
US sprint star Noah Lyles was tipped for a sprint triathlon in Paris after winning the 100m earlier this week, but he could only win the coveted 200m bronze medal on Thursday.
Minutes after the race, which was won by Botswana's Letsile Tebogo, Lyles revealed he had tested positive for Covid and said the disease had “taken its toll”.
The American later posted on social media that her Games were likely over, but that the United States remained the favorite to win gold in the sprint relay.
In Friday's women's 10,000m final, Dutch sprinter Sifan Hasan will look to defend her crown after falling short in her bid for a historic long-distance treble.
Defending champion and world record holder Carsten Warholm is favorite to defend his title in the men's 400m hurdles.
France Henri takes on Spain in the men's soccer final at the Parc des Princes.
Henry, one of the greatest players in French history, brought his country to the brink of winning its second football gold 40 years after winning the title in Los Angeles.
They have conceded just one goal in five matches and Henry admits he does not want his Olympic dream to end.
“I think it's going to be hard to wake up,” he said. “I watch every night and I get goosebumps when I see the boys win.”
Spain came from behind to beat Morocco 2-1 in their semi-final in Marseille in front of a hostile crowd, giving them confidence they can handle the pressure in the French capital.
“It's a different atmosphere that I like,” said Fermin Lopez, who has scored four goals at the Olympics after helping Spain win Euro 2024.
We can overcome anything in any situation. Now we want to win the gold.”
In diving, China is aiming for gold in the women's 3m platform as it continues its sweep in Paris, winning all six events so far.
Defending champions Holland face China in the women's hockey final, chasing their fourth title in five games after the Dutch men's team won a medal.
History will be made when the first Olympic medals are won in the breaking events held in La Concorde.
