WATCH - Shocking Paris Olympic 2024 boxing match ends in 46 seconds

In a dramatic and controversial moment at the Paris Olympics, Algerian boxer Imane Khelif advanced to the quarter-finals of the women's 66kg boxing category after her Italian opponent, Angela Carini, abandoned their bout in just 46 seconds.

The fight, held at Arena Paris Nord, saw Carini retreat to her corner twice before ultimately deciding not to continue. She did it after citing intense pain after taking a punch to the face within the first 30 seconds.

Here is the video:

Angela Carini (blue, female) abandons fight against Imane Khelif (red, male) a few minutes into fight /1 pic.twitter.com/yOIvZkDaow

— FairPlayForWomen (@fairplaywomen) August 1, 2024

Khelif, a 25-year-old athlete with Olympic experience from the Tokyo Games, was at the centre of attention, not just for her performance but also due to her contentious eligibility. Khelif had been disqualified from last year's Women's World Championships for failing to meet the eligibility criteria, which included elevated testosterone levels.

Despite this, she was cleared by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to compete in Paris, a decision that has sparked debate and concern within the boxing community.

Angela Carini gives a heartfelt message to countrymen

Angela Carini, visibly emotional after the match, expressed her disappointment but also her need to protect her well-being. She mentioned the intense pain she felt during the bout and the internal struggle she faced in deciding to stop the match. Carini’s decision was driven by her concern for her health, emphasizing that while she didn’t fear the ring or the blows, she had to make a difficult choice for her safety.

"I wasn't able to finish the match, I felt a strong pain in my nose and I said [to myself] for the experience that I have and the maturity as a woman that I have, I said I hope my nation won't take it badly, I hope my dad won't take it badly - but I stopped, I said stop for myself," she told BBC Sport.

The incident adds to the ongoing discussion about gender eligibility in sports, especially as it comes on the heels of another case involving Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting, who faced a similar situation after being stripped of a bronze medal at the World Championships for failing a gender eligibility test.

The IOC, overseeing the boxing events in Paris, has maintained that all athletes in the competition meet the required eligibility criteria, with spokesman Mark Adams pointing out that these athletes have a history of competing at the highest levels, including at the Tokyo Olympics.