3-8-2024 (PARIS) The simmering gender controversy surrounding the Paris Olympics boxing tournament has reached a fever pitch as one of the boxers at the center of the storm, Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, comfortably advanced to the quarterfinals on Friday. Meanwhile, fellow fighter Imane Khelif’s lopsided victory over her Italian opponent the previous day continued to spark outrage and debate among athletes, public figures, and politicians alike.
In her opening bout in the women’s 57kg class, the 28-year-old Lin Yu-ting showcased her skills and finesse, unanimously outpointing Sitora Turdibekova from Uzbekistan. Lin’s victory was marked by her impressive reach advantage and strategic footwork, as she sidestepped Turdibekova’s attempts to turn the contest into a close-quarters brawl.
Following her triumph, Lin remained tight-lipped, avoiding the media spotlight, while her coach, Tseng Tzu-chiang, offered a brief statement, acknowledging the respect for the rulings and rules governing the sport. “We just enjoyed the contest,” he added, skirting the controversy that has engulfed the boxing tournament.
The controversy erupted after Lin and Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who secured a 46-second victory over her Italian opponent Angela Carini on Thursday, were initially disqualified from the 2023 world championships in New Delhi by the International Boxing Association (IBA) for failing to meet eligibility criteria. However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which has stripped the IBA of responsibility for organizing the Paris Games boxing due to financial, ethical, and governance issues, cleared the boxers to compete, igniting a firestorm of controversy.
Carini, who was left bruised, beaten, and in tears after her bout with Khelif, expressed her sorrow for the Algerian boxer, stating, “All the controversy made me sad, and I’m sorry for my opponent too. It’s nothing to do with her. She was here like me to fight.” Carini acknowledged that her refusal to shake Khelif’s hand was born out of anger at seeing her Olympic dreams shattered, but she harbors no ill will toward her opponent.
As the debate rages on, voices from various quarters have weighed in, with Hungarian boxer Anna Luca Hamori, who faces Khelif on Saturday, expressing her belief that the Algerian should not be allowed to compete in the women’s category. Tunisian coach Samir Khlifi, however, defended Khelif, asserting that the IOC’s decision to allow her to participate was a matter of justice.
The controversy has also spilled over into the political arena, with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticizing the Khelif-Carini bout as unfair, while former U.S. President Donald Trump and his running mate JD Vance condemned the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports.
