Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting has secured a medal at the Paris Olympics after defeating Bulgaria’s Svetlana Staneva in the women’s 57kg quarter-final. Lin’s victory comes amidst a gender eligibility controversy that has also affected Algerian boxer Imane Khelif.
Lin, 28, won by unanimous points decision, guaranteeing herself a medal as losing semi-finalists in boxing receive bronze. Her opponent, 34-year-old Staneva, expressed her frustration after the fight, making an X sign with her fingers and declining to speak to reporters. Her coach, Borislav Georgiev, held up a sign that read: “I’m XX. Save woman sport.”
Khelif, who competes in the women’s 66kg division, is also guaranteed at least bronze after winning her quarter-final on Saturday. Both Khelif and Lin were disqualified from last year’s world championships due to failing gender eligibility tests but were cleared to compete in Paris.
The controversy stems from the fact that males typically have both an X and Y chromosome, while females have two X chromosomes. The International Boxing Association (IBA) disqualified Khelif and Lin from the world championships, but the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has allowed them to compete in Paris.
IOC President Thomas Bach has defended the boxers, stating that they were born and raised as women and have passports that reflect that. The IOC has taken over the organization of boxing in Paris due to governance, financial, and ethical issues at the IBA.
Lin expressed her appreciation for the support she has received from Taiwan, where she has the backing of the government and fans. “I just know that everyone is cheering for me and I know that all the people in Taiwan are behind me and support me,” she said.
The gender eligibility controversy has sparked debate about the fairness of allowing athletes who were assigned male at birth to compete in women’s sports. The IOC has stated that it is committed to ensuring a level playing field for all athletes, but the issue is likely to continue to be a topic of discussion in the future.
