In the weeks since Algeria’s Imane Khelif won an Olympic gold medal in women’s boxing, athletes and coaches in the North African nation say national enthusiasm is inspiring newfound interest in the sport,

Algeria and Japan have joined World Boxing, increasing the organization's membership to 44 federations as it looks to preserve the sport's place at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

The Algerian boxing federation that is home to Olympic champion Imane Khelif has joined the World Boxing group that wants to save the sport's place at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Algeria, whose athlete Imane Khelif won gold at the Paris Olympics amid a gender dispute, and Japan have joined World Boxing, increasing the fledgling body's membership to 44 national federations, World Boxing said on Tuesday.