Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting (林郁婷) on Wednesday advanced to the gold-medal bout in the women’s 57kg (featherweight) boxing division at the Paris Olympics.
Lin defeated Esra Yildiz Kahraman of Turkey 5-0. It was Lin’s third win at the Games ahead of the final bout for gold on Sunday against Julia Szeremeta of Poland.
“I will use everything I’ve learned in my life to do my best in the next match,” Lin said through an interpreter.
Photo: AFP
Lin and welterweight Imane Khelif of Algeria have won every round in all three of their Olympic bouts, despite the distractions created by the fallout from the International Boxing Association’s decision last year to disqualify the fighters from the world championships for failing an eligibility test.
In Taipei, Cabinet spokesman Chen Shih-kai (陳世凱) yesterday said that the most important thing was to allow Lin to compete in the best condition.
In terms of legal aspects, “we have asked lawyers to gather evidence and information,” he said, adding that legal action is likely to take place only after the Games have finished.
Meanwhile, Lin and Khelif have responded to the spotlight by making two of the best tournament runs in their lengthy amateur careers.
Just like Khelif, Lin has not been dominant in the sport, but that has not stopped many observers from casting both as unstoppable boxing machines during the Olympics.
The 28-year-old Lin is a veteran amateur boxer who won world championships in 2018 and 2022 during a solid decade at the top level of the sport, and bounced back from an opening-round exit in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 to become a medal winner in Paris.
“Thank you to all the supporters who have supported and encouraged me along the way,” Lin said after Wednesday’s win. “I will give my utmost effort to repay them at the final.”
Lin is to fight for gold on Sunday against 20-year-old Szeremeta, who rallied with a dominant third round for a 4-1 victory over Nesthy Petecio of the Philippines.
While Lin lost to Petecio at the Tokyo Olympics, Lin and Szeremeta have never met in the ring.
Khelif is to face Yang Liu (楊柳) of China in the women’s 66kg final tonight.
President William Lai (賴清德) and Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said that the Taiwanese boxer has the backing of the Republic of China (Taiwan) government.
Those found spreading misinformation about Lin would be condemned, Chen added.
Additional reporting by CNA
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