Paris 2024: Boxer Lin Yu-ting Secures Medal Amid Gender Row Debate

Lin Yu-ting clinched a unanimous decision victory over Bulgaria’s Svetlana Kamenova Staneva in the featherweight quarter-final on Sunday, ensuring Taiwan’s third boxing medal at the Paris Olympics.

Both Lin and Algeria’s Imane Khelif have been embroiled in a social media controversy at the Games after their disqualification from the 2023 World Championships due to unspecified gender eligibility rules by the International Boxing Association (IBA).

“I feel the strong support from everyone in Taiwan, and I will carry this energy with me to the end,” Lin said post-victory. “Winning this match doesn’t mean I can relax; I still have to work hard.”

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach affirmed on Saturday that there was never any doubt about Lin and Khelif being women who were rightfully competing at the Paris Olympics. The IOC is organizing the boxing tournament in Paris after stripping the IBA of international recognition in 2023 over governance and financial issues.

The Bulgarian Olympic Committee had previously expressed concerns over the participation of the two boxers during a meeting with the IOC’s Medical and Scientific Commission on July 27.

In Sunday’s bout, Lin adopted a cautious approach in the first round, waiting for her opponent to make the first move, which resulted in her receiving a few significant blows. However, in the second round, the two-time world champion took a more aggressive stance, leading to frustration from Staneva, who grappled with Lin and pushed her onto the canvas.

With a solid 3-0 lead going into the final round, Lin tried to maintain her evasive strategy but was accidentally tripped by Staneva, who courteously held the ropes open for Lin to exit the ring at the end of the fight.

Lin will now face Turkey’s Esra Yildiz in the semi-finals and is guaranteed a medal, adding to the efforts of her compatriots Wu Shih-yi and Chen Nien-chin, who also secured medals on Saturday.

Algeria’s Khelif is assured at least a bronze medal after defeating Hungary’s Luca Anna Hamori by unanimous decision in her welterweight quarter-final on Saturday.

The debate over Khelif and Lin’s participation intensified after Khelif’s 46-second victory in the round of 16 against Italy’s Angela Carini. Carini withdrew from the fight after being hit with multiple punches within the first 30 seconds, citing intense pain and concerns for her safety.

Despite the controversy, Carini expressed no ill feelings towards Khelif following the bout.