Paris Olympics: Taiwan boxer Lin eases into women's featherweight final amid gender dispute

PARIS — Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting, one of two boxers at the centre of a gender dispute at the Paris Olympics, moved a step closer to the Olympic title when she beat Turkey's Esra Yildiz by unanimous decision in the women's featherweight semi-finals on Wednesday (Aug 7).

Lin, twice world champion, and Algerian boxer Imane Khelif have been in the spotlight at the Olympics over a gender row that has dominated headlines and been the subject of much discussion on social media platforms.

Yildiz made an X sign with her fingers at the end of the bout, later declining to comment on the reason why.

The 28-year-old Lin is looking to clinch Taiwan's first Olympic title in boxing, the island having previously won only three bronze medals in the sport.

She faces Poland's Julia Szeremeta in the final on Saturday.

"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. I will use everything I've learnt in my life to do my best in the next match. I thank everyone in Taiwan for supporting me, even late at night.

"Thank you to all the supporters who have supported and encouraged me along the way. I will give my utmost effort to repay them in the final."

Lin and Khelif were disqualified by the International Boxing Association (IBA) from the 2023 World Championships in New Delhi, with the body saying in a shambolic press conference on Monday that a gender test had ruled both of them ineligible.

The two boxers are competing in the Olympics after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) stripped the IBA of its status as the sport's governing body in 2023 and took control of