TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) on Thursday (Aug. 8) criticized Turkish boxer Esra Yildiz Kahraman for making an "X" gesture towards Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting (林郁婷) after their match, calling the act "very unsportsmanlike." He praised Lin for proving herself through her performance in the ring.
At the Olympic Games Paris 2024 early Thursday, Lin dominated her opponent Kahraman with a 5-0 victory in the women's boxing 57kg semifinal, becoming the first Taiwanese boxer to advance to an Olympic gold medal match. After the match, Kahraman made an "X" gesture with her fingers, implying the gender controversy surrounding Lin.
Before attending the Future City Summit hosted by CommonWealth Magazine, Mayor Chiang expressed his excitement upon waking up to the news of Lin's victory. He condemned the attack targeting Lin, stating, "The public will support her fully."
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed Lin's eligibility to compete for Taiwan, with no issues regarding her qualification. Mayor Chiang expressed his hope for Lin to win the gold medal and reiterated that, regardless of the outcome, her performance has marked a historic achievement for Taiwan in Olympic boxing.