Taiwan's Yu-ting beats Staneva to ensure medal amid gender debate

PARIS :Lin Yu-ting beat Svetlana Kamenova Staneva of Bulgaria by a unanimous decision in a featherweight quarter-final fight on Sunday to ensure Taiwan's third boxing medal at the Paris Olympics.

Lin and Algeria's Imane Khelif have been at the centre of a social media storm at the Paris Games due to them being disqualified at the 2023 World Championships after falling foul of unspecified International Boxing Association's gender eligibility rules.

"I know all of Taiwan's people are standing behind me and supporting me, and I will carry this energy to the end," Lin said after her win.

"Even though I won this match doesn't mean I can relax, I still need to work hard."

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said on Saturday there "was never any doubt" that Lin and Khelif were women who had every right to compete at the Paris Olympics.

The boxing tournament in Paris is being organised by the IOC, which stripped the IBA of international recognition in 2023 over governance and finance issues.

On Friday, the Bulgarian Olympic Committee said it had voiced its concerns over the two boxers' presence at the tournament during a meeting with the IOC's Medical and Scientific Commission on July 27.

In Saturday's bout, the taller Lin attempted to sit back and let her opponent come to her in the first round, a strategy which had mixed results as she was struck with a few big shots.

In the second round, double world champion Lin was more direct and took the fight to Staneva, who showcased her frustration by grappling Lin and pushing her onto the canvas.

With a 3-0 lead heading into the final round, Lin once again tried to be evasive and found herself on the floor when she was accidentally tripped by Staneva, who held the ropes open