TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting (林郁婷)  won her match in Paris on Sunday (Aug. 4) against Bulgarian boxer Svetlana Staneva Kamenova, and will advance to the semifinals. 

Lin won the match by unanimous decision 5-0, with judges awarding 148 out of 150 possible points, compared to Kamenova’s score of 137. After the bout, Lin burst into tears and expressed her gratitude for all of the support that people in Taiwan have shown for her, reported UDN.

Lin is one of two athletes competing in women’s boxing at the Paris Olympics who are under scrutiny due to questions about their biological sex and the regulations governing their fitness to compete in the sport. Misinformation and uninformed speculation have increased the pressure for Lin and Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, both of whom were identified as female at birth. 

Taiwanese media and sports organizations, as well as fans and government officials have rallied behind Lin. President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) has also weighed in to express his support, urging her to bring a medal home for herself and the country.  

Sunday's bout was especially meaningful for Lin, because the last time Lin and Kamenova faced off was at the 2023 World Championships in New Delhi. In the previous matchup, Lin defeated Kamenova 5-2 to win a bronze medal. 

However, after her victory, the International Boxing Association stripped Lin of the medal and awarded in to Kamenova. The organization cited test results that disqualified Lin (as well as Khelif) due to discrepancies regarding biological sex, a decision that sparked the current controversy at the Paris 2024 Olympics. 

Sunday’s victory ensures that Lin will medal in the women’s 57kg category, regardless of the outcome of her next match. Lin’s next match will be held on Thursday (Aug. 8) against Turkish boxer Esra Kahraman.