Lin Yu-ting strikes Asian Games gold two years after Paris gender row

NAGOYA - Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting claimed her second Asian Games boxing gold medal on Friday, overcoming China’s Yang Chengyu 5-0 in the women’s 60kg final at the Aichi-Nagoya Games, two years after becoming embroiled in a gender-eligibility controversy at the Paris Olympics.

Lin, 30, had won Olympic and Asian Games gold at 57kg, but moved up to 60kg in Japan. Using her height, reach and sharp counter-punching, she controlled the final to secure another title. “After the Paris Olympics, I took a little bit of a break,” Lin said. “Coming back to boxing, I wanted to exceed my performance from the Paris Olympics, try to find my new self and have better capabilities in boxing.” Lin and Algeria’s Imane Khelif won Olympic gold in Paris amid a dispute over their eligibility. Lin was cleared to compete earlier this year after World Boxing reviewed her sex-eligibility status. Despite her experience and credentials, Lin said competing at the heavier weight felt like starting over. She described her opponents as exceptionally strong and said the demanding tournament had tested her throughout her four bouts.

China also celebrated a women’s boxing gold through Olympic champion Wu Yu, who moved up to 51kg, one kilogram above the division in which she triumphed in Paris. Wu defeated Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Tam in the final and said the additional kilogram allowed her to maintain better nutrition and conditioning. India’s Lovlina Borgohain also struck gold, celebrating her 29th birthday with victory over China’s Bao Ziyi in the women’s 75kg final. It was one of three boxing gold medals won by India on Friday.

In football, Japan edged North Korea 5-3 on penalties after a dramatic 2-2 draw through extra time at Shizuoka Stadium. Japan took the lead through Ueno Mami before North Korea responded with goals from Jong Kum and Jon Ryong Jong. Hanon Nishio restored parity in the 86th minute to force extra time, with Japan ultimately prevailing in the shootout. India’s Sujeet Kalkal produced one of the day’s biggest wrestling upsets, defeating Japan’s Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka in the semifinals before recovering from a 9-2 deficit against Tajikistan’s Abdulmazhid Kudiev to win the men’s 65kg freestyle title. Malaysia dominated the squash competition, securing both the men’s and women’s team gold medals and taking four of the five squash titles contested at the Nagoya Kinjo-Futo Arena.