Lin Yu-ting Secures Medal Amidst Controversy at Paris Olympics

Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting has advanced to the semi-finals of the women’s featherweight division at the Paris Olympics, becoming the second boxer at the center of a gender eligibility controversy to secure a medal. The 28-year-old defeated Bulgarian Svetlana Staneva by unanimous decision to secure her spot.

Staneva, visibly frustrated by the result, left the arena making a cross with her fingers and shouting “no, no.” The fight was tense, with Staneva frequently complaining about Lin’s use of elbows. The Bulgarian Boxing Federation had expressed strong opposition to Lin’s participation prior to the bout.

Like Algerian welterweight Imane Khelif, who advanced on Saturday, Lin is competing in Paris despite being banned from last year’s World Championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA) due to reportedly failing gender eligibility tests. This has sparked significant controversy and debate.

Lin will face either Brazil’s 2023 Pan American Games champion Jucielen Romeu or Turkey’s Esra Yildiz Kahraman in the semi-finals on Wednesday. Regardless of the outcome, Lin is assured of at least a bronze medal.