Lin Yu-ting, one of two boxers at the heart of a gender dispute at the Paris Games, made light work of Polish opponent Julia Szeremeta to claim the women’s featherweight title on Saturday (August 10).
Lin and Algeria’s Imane Khelif, who won gold in the welterweight category on Friday, have been in the spotlight as part of a gender dispute that has dominated headlines and been the subject of much discussion on social media platforms.
The 28-year-old Lin became Taiwan’s first gold medallist in boxing, with the island having previously won only three bronze medals in the sport – two of which came at the Paris Olympics.
Lin and Khelif were disqualified by the International Boxing Association (IBA) from the 2023 World Championships in New Delhi, with the body saying in a shambolic press conference at the Paris Games that a gender test had ruled them ineligible.
The two boxers are competing in the Olympics after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) stripped the IBA of its status as the sport’s governing body in 2023 and took control of organising the boxing in Paris.
Using her jab to keep Szeremeta at bay, Lin landed a couple of right hooks as the Pole was looking to break the distance.
Szeremeta was full of good intentions but lacked speed and accuracy, exposing herself to a potential counter blow.
Lin also had more speed in a one-sided bout that forced Szeremeta to go all in during the last round, and the Taiwanese was just content to dodge the attacks.
Uzbekistan’s Abdumalik Khalokov won gold in the men’s featherweight boxing final by unanimous decision, leaving Kyrgyzstan’s Munarbek Seiitbek Uulu with silver.
Australian Charlie Senior and Bulgaria’s Javier Ibanez took bronze after their semi-final defeats.
Canada’s Philip Kim won the first Olympic gold medal ever awarded for men’s breaking at the Paris Games.
France’s Danis Civil won silver and Victor Montalvo of the United States took bronze.
In the pool, China won the gold medal in the duet artistic swimming event. Britain settled for the silver and the Netherlands won the bronze medal.
(REUTERS)
