Algerian boxer Imane Khelif is set to fight for a gold medal at the Paris Olympics after winning her semi-final against Thailand's Janjaem Suwannapheng.
Should Khelif, 25, win the final, it will be her nation's first-ever gold medal in Olympic boxing.
Following her win on Tuesday (local time), Khelif — a target of a gender row — said she didn't care "what anyone is saying about me with the controversy".
"All that is important to me is that I stay on the level and give my people the performance they deserve," she said. "I know I'm a talented person and this is a gift to all Algerians."
Chants of "Imane" tumbled down from the stands as Khelif, who is one of two boxers caught up in the ongoing row, dominated Suwannapheng to confirm she will get the chance to emulate compatriot Hocine Soltani, who won lightweight gold in 1996.
"This is something that we are proud of and proud of the Algerian people and the Arab world," she said following the match.
"We dedicate this entire achievement to them and the whole world that saw it. The world has supported me."
Khelif, along with Olympic Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan, were disqualified by the International Boxing Association (IBA) during last year's World Championships for failing to meet gender eligibility criteria.
The IBA has not provided proof of its alleged findings.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has also expelled the IBA over financial and corruption concerns, and is now administering the sport in Paris.
The IOC has defended Khelif and Lin and has labelled the IOC's move to expel the pair "an arbitrary decision". It said they were born and raised as women, and their passports say they are female.
They also both competed at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 without issue.
A media storm centred on Khelif erupted after her 46-second match against Italy's Angela Carini, who abandoned the fight saying she had "never felt a punch like this" and refused to shake Khelif's hand.
Carini's reaction, for which she later apologised, sparked a backlash against Khelif in some circles, with some falsely labelling the Algerian a man.
In an interview with SNTV, a sports video partner of The Associated Press, on Sunday, Khelif called for an end to bullying.
"I send a message to all the people of the world to uphold the Olympic principles and the Olympic Charter, to refrain from bullying all athletes, because this has effects, massive effects," Khelif said in Arabic.
"It can destroy people, it can kill people's thoughts, spirit and mind. It can divide people. And because of that, I ask them to refrain from bullying."
Khelif declined to answer when asked whether she had undergone tests other than doping tests, and expressed gratitude to the IOC and its president, Thomas Bach, for standing behind her.
Khelif and China's Liu Yang will be in the ring for the gold medal fight at 6.50am AEST on Saturday.
With reporting by PA Media and The Associated Press via the Australian Associated Press.
