Lin Yu-ting from Chinese Taipei won her quarterfinal bout at the Paris Olympics against Svetlana Staneva from Bulgaria, securing a medal in the featherweight category. Despite facing unfounded questions about her gender and eligibility, Lin remained focused on her fight and expressed gratitude towards her coaches and fans. She emphasized that a guaranteed medal is not enough for her, stating that her goal is to win the gold.
Lin and Algeria’s Imane Khelif have faced scrutiny due to concerns about their gender, stemming from disqualifications by the International Boxing Association in 2023. However, the IOC has defended them, dismissing the gender-related concerns as baseless. Despite calls for Lin to be removed from the tournament, her Olympic organizing committee has condemned the online abuse directed at her.
In her fight against Staneva, Lin initially struggled but ultimately won with a unanimous decision from the judges in the following rounds. She will face Turkey’s Esra Yıldız Kahraman in the semifinals, with the winner advancing to the gold medal round. Staneva declined to speak to reporters after the fight, as this tournament awards two bronze medals instead of a third-place match. Therefore, reaching the semifinals guarantees an award for Lin.
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