Boxer Lin Yu-ting from Taiwan has secured a spot in the gold-medal match in the women’s featherweight division at the Paris Olympics. Despite facing widespread scrutiny over misconceptions about her gender, Lin achieved her third consecutive victory by defeating Esra Yildiz Kahraman of Turkey on Wednesday night. She will face Julia Szeremeta of Poland in the final bout on Saturday.
Both Lin and welterweight Imane Khelif from Algeria have faced distractions resulting from the International Boxing Association’s decision to disqualify them from the world championships last year. Despite this, they have excelled in the Olympic tournament, winning all rounds in their matches.
Lin, a 28-year-old veteran amateur boxer, relies on her solid technique and strategic use of reach rather than power to secure victories. In her recent fight against Kahraman, Lin displayed her skill by maintaining distance and outmaneuvering her opponent.
While Khelif has been more vocal about the controversy surrounding her eligibility, Lin has chosen to focus on her performance in the ring. She has received support from former Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and cheers from fans during her matches.
In her upcoming final match, Lin will go against Szeremeta, who defeated Nesthy Petecio of the Philippines. Despite a slip during her fight against Kahraman, Lin managed to secure the victory and advance to the highly anticipated gold-medal bout.
