Bulgarian female boxer shows ‘XX’ chromosome symbol after losing to gender test-failed Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting at Paris Olympics
Taiwan’s Lin Yu-Ting clinches first Paris 2024 Olympic medal amid gender debate; Svetlana Kamenova Staneva makes viral gesture.
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Olympics-Boxing-Taiwan’s Lin Yu-Ting defeats Svetlana Kamenova Staneva (Source: Instagram/X)
Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan clinched her first Olympic medal amid outcry over gender eligibility issues and a social media storm. She faced and beat Svetlana Kamenova Staneva of Bulgaria by a unanimous decision in a featherweight quarter-final fight on Sunday, securing Taiwan’s third boxing medal at the Paris Olympics 2024. Yu-ting is now going viral for her post-fight speech. Kamenova Staneva, though, is going viral over a whole other discourse!
Lin Yu-ting swept into a victory just as the controversy-engulfed Imane Khelif did a day before. She faced Svetlana Kamenova Staneva in a women’s (—57 kg) quarterfinal boxing match between 9:30 a.m. & 2 p.m. ET. Staneva appeared to walk past Lin immediately after the fight, but after the referee announced the decision, she gestured a vibrant “X” over her head, signifying the ‘XX’ chromosomes.
But that’s not where the buck ended. Staneva walked over and sat on the rope on her opponent’s side and opened the rope for a solemn Lin to step out.
Staneva’s coach though, controversially addressed the gender row surrounding Paris Olympics Games. He held a paper with the words “I only want to play with women I am XX” scrawled on it.
As the IOC’s recriminations intensified around its ad-hoc Boxing Unit rules, Khelif almost broke down after her win. Lin Yu-ting though, received a harsher gender row reality from her 34-year amateur boxing veteran. Both she and Khelif are guaranteed at least bronze in the Paris Olympics after winning their bouts on consecutive days.
What’s next for Lin Yu-ting at Paris Games?
Svetlana Kamenova Staneva lost a close match to Yu-ting in the semifinals of the 2023 World Championships. IBA turned it into a no-contest with Lin, 28, failing her gender eligibility tests. Lin Yu-ting and Khelif have been at the center of a boxing gender war ever since. Neither boxers identify as transgender though.
Matter of fact, IOC President Thomas Bach has come to their defense saying the uprising against them is flawed. With a ginormous amount of false media propagation around the topic, Khelif and her rollercoaster week have started to gain traction. Her father, Omar Khelif has also come forward with proof regarding her gender row and provided a gravitating stand in the matter.
The Algerian boxes again Tuesday, while Lin will face Turkey’s Esra Yildiz Kahraman on Wednesday in the semi-finals. With no bronze bouts in Olympic boxing, Lin is guaranteed at least a medal in the bracket. She’ll face Yildiz Kahraman on Wednesday 7th at 20.30 ET. who defeated fourth seed Jucielen Cerqueira Romeu of Brazil.
She beat Staneva by unanimous decision in a scrappy fight which at times seemed to topple down either way. The opponent kept complaining about her strong elbows; 3-0 and treading, she also fell down when Staneva tripped her.
As the Paris 2024 gender-row boxing controversy continues she says her goal is to become a gold medalist. She made no mention of the online scrutiny of the past few days, saying she had shut down her social media before her first Olympic fight.
In case you missed it:
- Prize money for ‘Gender row victim’ Italian Angela Carini who quit in 46 seconds against controversial Imane Khelif
- Donald Trump promises to ‘BAN biological males’ from competing in women’s sports amid Paris Olympics boxing controversy
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