Lin Yu-ting advances to gold-medal Olympic bout
Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan has advanced to the gold medal round in the women’s featherweight event, winning her third successive match despite considerable criticism over gender stereotypes at the Paris Olympics.
Lin defeated Esra Yildiz Kahraman of Turkey 5:0 on Wednesday night, one day after Algerian welterweight Imane Khelif advanced to the women’s welterweight final with her third consecutive win in Paris.
Lin Yu-ting
Lin will compete for gold on Saturday, facing Julia Szeremeta of Poland.
“I will use everything I’ve learnt in my life to do my best in the next match,” Lin stated through an interpreter.
Lin and Khelif have won every round in all three of their Olympic bouts, despite the massive distractions caused by the International Boxing Association’s decision last year to disqualify both fighters from the world championships for allegedly failing an eligibility test.
Both boxers have responded to the unwelcome spotlight by having two of their best tournament runs in their long amateur careers. Lin, like Khelif, has never been a dominant champion in her discipline, but that hasn’t stopped many onlookers from portraying both as invincible boxing machines at the Olympics after the IBA disqualified them last year.
In truth, the 28-year-old Lin is an experienced amateur boxer who won world championships in 2018 and 2022 after a decade at the top level of the sport. She has now recovered from a first-round loss in Tokyo to win a medal in Paris.
“The feeling of entering the gold-medal match is one of gratitude to myself for making it this far,” Lin told reporters. “After going out in the first round of the Tokyo Olympics, it’s been a tough journey to reach the finals.”
Lin is typically taller and more slender than her opponents, and she wins the majority of her fights through strong technique and the strategic use of her reach rather than power. That’s exactly how she defeated Kahraman, who tried to push a physical fight as Lin slowly pulled her apart, usually from a distance.
In a classic boxing act of sportsmanship, Kahraman hugged Lin and held open the ropes to allow Lin to exit the ring at Roland Garros. Lin clapped, waved, and bowed to the roaring crowd numerous times as he left the floor.
While Khelif offered an exclusive interview to SNTV, The Associated Press’s sports video partner, last weekend and then spoke briefly in the mixed zone after her semifinal triumph Tuesday, Lin has made few public comments about those attempting to drag her into trouble.
She has received a lot of support outside of the Olympics, including from former Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen — and when Lin walked to the ring for the first bout on Court Philippe Chatrier, she was greeted with loud cheers from a large crowd, including pockets of roaring, flag-waving fans.
“Thank you to all the supporters who have supported and encouraged me along the way,” Lin told reporters. “I will give my utmost effort to repay them at the final.”
Lin and Khelif were frequently cheered during their time in the Olympic boxing rings, first in suburban Villepinte and subsequently at this renowned clay-court tennis facility.
Lin dominated her first two fights in Paris against opponents from Uzbekistan and Bulgaria, although starting badly in both. She did it again when she faced Kahraman, who is physically stronger than Lin but possibly not as talented.
Kahraman quickly attempted to bring the fight to Lin, muscling and storming forward to get inside Lin’s relentless jab and winging blows. Lin performed well enough to win the round on all five judges’ cards, but she also stumbled and fell to the canvas midway through the round due to a physical collision.
Both combatants exchanged reckless shots early in the second round, delighting the audience. Lin was warned for throwing blows in the back of the head as Kahraman surged past her, eliciting whistles from the audience.
Lin will compete for gold against 20-year-old Szeremeta, who defeated Nesthy Petecio of the Philippines 4:1 after a strong third round. Lin and Szeremeta have never faced each other in the ring, despite Lin’s loss to Petecio at the Tokyo Olympics.
That’s exactly what Lin did to Szeremeta after entering the ring on Saturday amid loud chants and dozens of Olympic-style Chinese Taipei flags fluttering in the stands, with millions more cheering at home.
Lin used her long left jab from the opening, keeping the 20-year-old Szeremeta at bay and establishing combinations. Lin’s hands were quicker and more active, and she dominated the first two rounds with a flurry of clear punches.
Lin strolled to victory, ducking a few of Szeremeta’s sluggish punches without responding in the closing minute. Szeremeta had a bloodied face and a welt under her right eye at the end of the fight.
Lin moved to the centre of the ring, knelt on the Paris 2024 logo, and touched her head to the canvas after raising her hand and holding open the ropes for Szeremeta’s exit, as is customary in boxing.
Lin happily offered one of her instructors a piggyback ride after exiting the ring. Lin lifted her hand to her heart before stepping onto the medal platform.
Lin, 29, has built a successful career as a top Olympic-style boxer, winning world titles in 2018 and 2022. She advanced to the semifinals of last year’s global championships until the IBA disqualified her and deprived her of the bronze medal.
While Khelif has been vociferous in the face of criticism, Lin has been more reserved in her public handling of the controversy. Her quarterfinal and semifinal opponents in Paris shown modest sportsmanship, but they also made it plain that Lin should not have been allowed to compete.
Lin, however, has received strong support from both the Paris audiences and her home nation, including former President Tsai Ing-wen, who tweeted a message of support on social media.
“I feel incredible,” Lin remarked. “I’d like to thank everyone who has supported me, as well as my team and everyone in Taiwan.” “They gave me the power.”
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