Lin Yu-ting advances to World Boxing Cup semifinals in China

Taipei, June 19 (CNA) Taiwan's Olympic boxing gold medalist Lin Yu-ting (林郁婷) on Friday cruised into the semifinals of the women's 60 kilogram division at the World Boxing Cup stop in China with a dominant victory over her Brazilian opponent.

Facing Brazil's Rebeca Santos, the reigning world champion in the division, Lin fought well but won the first round only 3-2 among the five judges.

However, Lin gradually took control in the second round, increasingly dictating the pace and offense, while Santos had a point deducted following a warning from the referee. As a result, Lin won the round 5-0.

In the final round, she maintained her rhythm and relied largely on counterattacks to seal the win. The Taiwanese pugilist faces China's Yang Chengyu (楊成宇), the 2023 World Boxing Cup champion, in the semifinals.

It was only Lin's second international competition in the 60 kg division since winning Olympic gold in Paris in 2024, following the Asian Boxing Elite Boxing Championships in April, where she exited in the semifinals with a bronze medal.

At the World Boxing Cup stop in Guiyang, Taiwan fielded two male and four female boxers, with only Lin and Wu Shih-yi (吳詩儀) in the women's 57 kg division making it to the quarterfinals. However, Wu later lost to Indian boxer Prachi Prachi.

After the bout, Lin's coach Tseng Tzu-chiang (曾自強) praised the boxer for her performance.

"She effectively limited her opponent's attacks and followed the strategy we planned," he told CNA.

Tseng said Lin previously relied on a speed advantage in the 57 kg division, but now faces stronger opponents in the heavier 60 kg class and still needs to adapt to the increase in power.

The World Boxing Cup in China is being held from June 15-21 at the Guiyang Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium.