Amid gender row, Bulgarian boxer makes ‘X’ gesture after defeat against Lin Yu-ting – WATCH

New Delhi: Bulgarian boxer Svetlana Staneva made a controversial ‘X’ gesture with her hands after losing her bout against Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yu-ting at the Paris Olympics 2024. Lin is one of two boxers, whose gender identity has been scrutinised at the Paris Olympics 2024. Lin and Alegria’s Imane Khelif failed gender identity tests at the World Championships in New Delhi last year but have been allowed to compete in the women’s category at the Paris Games.

A debate erupted over gender identity after Italian boxer Angela Carini pulled out of her contest against Khelif last week. Carini had quit her bout inside 46 seconds against Khelif while calling the fight ‘unfair’. Ever since the controversial fight, there have been questions raised over Khelif’s actual gender.

Lin has also been at the centre of the controversy amid intensified debate over gender and fairness in women’s sports. The Chinese Taipei boxer defeated Staneva 5-0 in the quarter-final of the women’s featherweight category to assure herself of at least a bronze medal at the Paris Games. But Staneva didn’t leave the ring without having a say.

The Bulgarian boxer made a ‘X’ gesture with her hands after her defeat against Lin. Many pointed out that the gesture from Staneva was signalling that she is a female with XX chromosomes while Ting is not. Her signal is believed to be a protest against Lin’s inclusion in the women’s category at the Olympics.

Bulgarian female boxer Svetlana Staneva makes ‘X’ hand gesture to signal she is a real woman, after being beaten by biological male Lin Yu-Ting.

XX= Female Chromosomes.

pic.twitter.com/9BLf4AfhG0

— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) August 4, 2024

• Bulgarian female boxer Svetlana Staneva refused to shake Lin Yu-Ting hand and made a double “X” hand gesture to signal that she has XX chromosomes.

XX= Female Chromosomes.
XY= Male Chromosomes pic.twitter.com/OQI2OJM7Tz

— Misty Owens (@MistyDawnOw66) August 4, 2024

Amid the gender row, IOC has stood behind both Lin and Khelif, stating that they are eligible to participate in women’s boxing at the Paris Games. The IOC takes into consideration the gender on an athlete’s passport when approving them to participate in the showpiece event thus both Lin and Khelif have been allowed to compete.

I know Taiwan people are behind me: Lin Yu-ting

Despite being in the centre of a gender row and questions being raised over her eligibility to participate in women’s boxing, Lin Yu-ting is determined to do well and continue her quest for a top podium finish at the Paris Games. After her win against Staneva, Lin said she knows she has the backing of people back home and wants to carry the energy till the end.

“I know all of Taiwan’s people are standing behind me and supporting me, and I will carry this energy to the end,” said the Taiwanese boxer.

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 Amid row over the gender identity of Chinese Taipei boxer Lin-Yu-ting, her opponent Svetlana Staneva of Bulgaria made an ‘X’ gesture with her hands after losing her bout at the Paris Olympics 2024.  Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today