Italian Boxer Angela Carini Wants To Apologize To Algeria's Imane Khelif

Italian boxer Angela Carini isn’t happy about the way she reacted after her short match with Algeria’s Imane Khelif at the Paris Olympics and admits her opponent deserves an apology, according to an Italian publication.

The two boxed on Thursday but exchanged only a few punches before Carini abandoned the bout in pain. She then dropped to her knees and cried, missing a prompt to shake hands with Khelif.

Others cried for Carini as well, including lots of right-wingers who looked at Khelif and incorrectly decided she must be a man trying to compete in a woman’s sport ― even though she fought in the Tokyo Games without any controversy.

On Friday, Carini said her post-match behavior wasn’t very sporting.

“All this controversy makes me sad,” Carini told the Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, according to the BBC. “I’m sorry for my opponent, too. If the [International Olympic Committee] said she can fight, I respect that decision.”

The 25-year-old Carini said she was OK with her decision to abandon the fight but regretted not shaking her hand.

“It wasn’t something I intended to do,” Carini told La Gazzetta, according to the BBC. “Actually, I want to apologise to her and everyone else. I was angry because my Olympics had gone up in smoke.”

Carini added she would “embrace” Khelif if they meet again.