Current:Home > reviewsCharles Langston:As gender eligibility issue unfolds, Olympic boxer Lin Yu-Ting dominates fight -Excel Wealth Summit
Charles Langston:As gender eligibility issue unfolds, Olympic boxer Lin Yu-Ting dominates fight
Ethermac View
Date:2025-04-07 16:37:24
PARIS – A second Olympic boxer at the center of controversy over gender eligibility stepped inside the ring at the Paris Games Friday.
Lin Yu-Ting of Taiwan won her opening bout in the women’s competition as the issue of gender and Charles Langstoneligibility criteria continued to generate anger and confusion. Capitalizing on her length and quickness, the 5-foot-10 Lin beat Uzbekistan's Sitora Turdibekova on points by unanimous decision.
Lin and Imane Khelif were disqualified from the 2023 world championships for reportedly failing gender eligibility criteria at an event run by the International Boxing Association (IBA).
But this week the IOC said the boxers met criteria to compete at the Paris Games and pointed out both boxers participated in the Tokyo Games in 2021. The IOC said the two boxers were victims of arbitrary decisions by the IBA, which disqualified Lin and Khelif after they won medals at the 2023 world championships.
Get Olympics updates in your texts! Join USA TODAY Sports' WhatsApp Channel
2024 Olympic medals: Who is leading the medal count? Follow along as we track the medals for every sport.
For at least three rounds of boxing Friday, the focus returned to the ring as Lin took on Turdibekova.
About a minute into the first round, Lin's headgear came off during an exchange with her opponent, revealing her hair to be in a bun atop her head. After her coach got Lin's headgear back on, the fight resumed and Lin showed more aggression, smothering the 5-6 Ubekistani with punches and winning the round on the card of four of the five judges.
Turdibekova caught Lin with a solid right in the second round, and Lin responded with a barrage of punches and won the round on the cards of all five judges. The Ubekistani fighter landed a couple of solid shots in the third round but Lin still controlled the action and clearly won the fight.
Lin did not stop to talk to reporters after the fight. Not did Turdibekova, who was in tears after the bout.
OPINION:Olympic female boxers are being attacked. Let's just slow down and look at the facts
When it ended, it the outcome was decisive: only a one judge awarded a single round to the Uzbekstani fighter.
Outrage flared Thursday when Imane Yehlif of Algeria won her opening bout in the welterweight division at 146 pounds. She landed only a single punch – to the face of Italy’s Angela Carini, who quit 46 seconds into the fight.
The outcome and scene, with Carini weeping inside the ring and after the fight, triggered a storm of outrage online. Jake Paul, an honorary coach for the U.S. Olympic boxing team, called the situation "sickening'' in a post on his X account.
Yehlif is scheduled to fight Saturday against Hungary's Anna Luca Hamori in the quarterfinals.
Lin is scheduled to fight Sunday against Bulgaria's Svetlana Staneva in the quarterfinals
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
veryGood! (72494)
Related
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
- How long will the solar eclipse darkness last in your city? Explore these interactive maps.
- The Daily Money: Now might be a good time to rent
- Army Reserve soldiers, close friends killed in drone attack, mourned at funerals in Georgia
- 'No Good Deed': Who's the killer in the Netflix comedy? And will there be a Season 2?
- Thousands of fans 'Taylor-gate' outside of Melbourne stadium
- 30 cremated remains, woman's body found at rental of Colorado funeral home director
- New Jersey district settles sex abuse lawsuit involving former teacher for $6 million
- Arkansas State Police probe death of woman found after officer
- Buying Nvidia stock today? Here are 3 things you need to know.
Ranking
- Grammy nominee Teddy Swims on love, growth and embracing change
- Biden’s rightward shift on immigration angers advocates. But it’s resonating with many Democrats
- George Kliavkoff out as Pac-12 commissioner as the full conference enters final months
- Jury awards $10 million to man who was wrongly convicted of murder
- Small twin
- Saving democracy is central to Biden’s campaign messaging. Will it resonate with swing state voters?
- Daytona 500 2024: Start time, TV, live stream, lineup, key info for NASCAR season opener
- East Carolina's Parker Byrd becomes first Division I baseball player with prosthetic leg
Recommendation
Tree trimmer dead after getting caught in wood chipper at Florida town hall
2 juveniles charged in Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting, court says
Bears great Steve McMichael contracts another infection, undergoes blood transfusion, family says
Snoop Dogg mourns death of younger brother Bing Worthington: 'You always made us laugh'
South Korea's acting president moves to reassure allies, calm markets after Yoon impeachment
Winter Beauty Hack- Get $20 off Isle of Paradise Self-Tanning Drops and Enjoy a Summer Glow All Year Long
Here’s a look inside Donald Trump’s $355 million civil fraud verdict as an appeals fight looms
NBA commissioner for a day? Vince Staples has some hilarious ideas – like LeBron throwing a chair