Svetlana Staneva, the Bulgarian boxer, faced a disappointing and controversial end to her journey at the Paris Olympic Games, being eliminated in the quarterfinals of the 57-kilogram category.
Staneva, the reigning European champion from Belgrade 2024 and a bronze medalist from the last World Championship in New Delhi 2023, lost to Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan with a score of 0:5 (27:30, 28:29, 28:29, 27:30, 27:30).
Staneva, 34, made her Olympic debut in Paris, but despite her experience and accolades, she could not overcome Lin, the current Asian champion and top-ranked boxer in Paris.
The match was intense, with Staneva holding her own in the first round against Lin, a two-time world champion from Istanbul 2022 and New Delhi 2018.
However, Lin’s use of unsportsmanlike tactics, including elbows and headbutts, went largely unpunished by the Canadian referee, who only issued a few remarks. The ringside judges gave Lin a slight edge in the opening round.
The second round, which appeared evenly matched to many observers, saw all five judges award their votes to Lin, a decision that essentially sealed the match in her favor.
In the third round, Staneva launched a series of aggressive attacks in a bid to turn the tide, but her efforts did not yield the desired results.
The two fighters last met in the quarterfinals of the World Championships in New Delhi in March 2023, where Staneva lost with a 2:3 judges’ vote.
Lin initially secured the bronze medal but was later disqualified by the International Boxing Association for not passing a gender test, resulting in the bronze being awarded to Staneva.
Despite this controversy, Lin was allowed to compete in the women’s Olympic tournament. After the fight, a visibly angry Staneva refused to speak to the waiting journalists, walking past them and expressing her frustration loudly.
“I have XX chromosomes, I’m a woman!” she exclaimed, adding, “Check her for chromosomes!” Staneva’s comments highlighted her frustration with the officiating and her opponent’s tactics.
Stefka Kostadinova, president of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee, congratulated Staneva after the match. Kostadinova watched the fight from the stands and offered her support despite the loss.
Out of the four Bulgarian boxers who reached the quarterfinals in Paris, only Javier Ibanez in the 57-kilogram category managed to secure a medal for Bulgaria at the Olympics.
Staneva’s elimination brings an end to what was a promising Olympic debut, overshadowed by the controversy surrounding her match with Lin.
The Bulgarian boxer’s journey to the Olympics was marked by significant achievements, but her exit at the hands of Lin, coupled with the contentious nature of the bout, leaves a bittersweet taste.
As the dust settles on her Olympic campaign, Staneva’s focus will likely shift towards future competitions, where she will aim to build on her successes and perhaps seek redemption against her rival.
For now, the boxing world will remember her fiery spirit and the dramatic end to her Paris 2024 Olympic journey.