Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-Ting triumphed in a decisive match against Uzbekistan’s Sitora Turdibekova at the Paris Olympics on Friday, winning 3-0.
The judges unanimously scored each round in Lin’s favor, showcasing her dominance in the bout. Lin’s superior height and reach were significant factors, leaving Turdibekova outmatched throughout the contest.
As the No. 1 seed in the 57-kilogram division, Lin had a bye into the round of 16. Turdibekova earned her place in the match against Lin by defeating Marcelat Sakobi Matshu of Congo. Lin’s next challenge will be against Bulgaria’s Svetlana Staneva.
However, Lin’s journey to the Olympics has not been without controversy. She was previously disqualified from the 2023 Women’s Boxing World Championships, an event sanctioned by the International Boxing Association (IBA), for failing to meet gender criteria, resulting in the stripping of her bronze medal. At the time, IBA President Umar Kremlev stated, “Based on DNA tests, we identified a number of athletes who tried to trick their colleagues into posing as women.”
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Despite the IBA standing by its decision, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) defended its position in allowing Lin and Algeria’s Imane Khelif to compete in the Games. The IOC argued that the IBA’s disqualification of these athletes was abrupt and lacked due process.
“These two athletes were the victims of a sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA,” the IOC said. “Towards the end of the IBA World Championships in 2023, they were suddenly disqualified without any due process.”
The IOC elaborated that the IBA Secretary General and CEO initially made the disqualification decision, which the IBA Board later ratified. The board only afterward requested the establishment of a procedure for handling similar cases in the future, indicating a lack of clear guidelines at the time of the disqualification.
“The current aggression against these two athletes is based entirely on this arbitrary decision, which was taken without any proper procedure – especially considering that these athletes had been competing in top-level competition for many years,” the IOC added.
Lin’s ability to compete and succeed at the Paris Olympics highlights her resilience and determination in the face of significant challenges. As she prepares for her next match against Staneva, Lin’s performance continues to demonstrate her skill and resolve as an elite athlete.
