Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting continued her impressive run in the ring by securing gold at the 2026 Asian Games. The 30-year-old athlete, who faced significant scrutiny regarding her eligibility at the Paris 2024 Olympics, defeated China’s Yang Chengyu with a 5-0 decision in the women’s 60kg (132lb) final held on Friday in Nishio, Japan. This victory marks her second Asian Games title, following her previous success in the 57kg (126lb) category in Hangzhou three years ago. The Olympic champion who found herself embroiled in a major gender row at Paris 2024, has won gold at the Asian Games, taiwan boxer Lin Yu-ting.
Performing before a dedicated group of supporters at the Nishio Gymnasium, Lin utilized her reach advantage to command the pace of the match. While Yang attempted a final rally in the closing round, Lin successfully neutralized the pressure to seal the win. Speaking to AFP prior to the tournament, Lin revealed she had contemplated retirement after her Olympic campaign but chose to continue competing as a defiant response to those challenging her career credentials.
The controversy surrounding Lin stems from a 2023 world championship event where she and Algerian boxer Imane Khelif were disqualified by the International Boxing Association (IBA). The governing body claimed the pair failed to pass unspecified gender eligibility tests. In contrast, the International Olympic Committee authorized both athletes to participate in the Paris Games, characterizing the IBA’s actions as a “a sudden and arbitrary decision” from a body it deemed widely discredited. Both Lin and Khelif ultimately achieved gold medal success during the Paris Olympics.
