Nagoya – Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting won a “monumental” Asian Games gold on Friday and said she was “grateful for making it through” after considering quitting following a major gender row at the Paris Olympics. The 30-year-old beat China’s Yang Chengyu 5-0 in the women’s 60-kilogram final in Nagoya, giving her a second Asian Games gold after winning in the 57-kg class in Hangzhou three years ago. Lin said before the Games that she had considered retiring after winning gold at the Paris Olympics but wanted to carry on fighting in part to defy those who questioned her eligibility.
She said after her victory in Nagoya that she had been “waiting for that moment when the light breaks through“. President Donald Trump, Elon Musk and author J.K. Rowling among those wading in.
The two boxers had been disqualified from the 2023 world championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA) after the organisation said they failed unspecified gender eligibility tests. However, the IOC allowed them to compete in Paris, saying they were victims of “a sudden and arbitrary decision” by the widely discredited IBA. Both went on to win gold.
Lin said winning at the Asian Games was different from her Olympic victory, adding that its “significance is monumental“. I am so grateful to the coach for always believing in me and always believing that good things would happen.” Lin was backed by a small pocket of vocal Taiwanese supporters in the cosy Nishio Gymnasium. Towering over her opponent, she used her superior reach to take control of the bout and had a clear advantage heading into the third and final round.
She held off a late assault from Yang to take gold, celebrating with the minimum of fuss. Lin said she decided to compete in a heavier weight class at the Asian Games because she was “not afraid to die“.
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