Agony for China as Yin Junhua loses out on boxing gold on ‘preferred winner’ ruling
Yin comes agonisingly close to becoming China’s first ever Olympic gold medallist in women’s boxing
Fierce boxer Yin Junhua came agonisingly close to becoming China’s first ever Olympic gold medallist in women’s boxing, beaten by the narrowest margins in the women’s lightweight boxing finals against French boxer Estelle Mossely.
Two judges gave each of the boxers the decision, while a third judge scored it 38-38 tied over the four rounds. Mossely won on the “preferred winner” rule in which all five judges decide who they thought should win.
WATCH: golden moments on Day 14 at the Rio Olympics
The French fighter made it to the history book by becoming the first Frenchwoman to win an Olympic boxing gold. The gold medal was also the perfect gift for her – the world champion turned 24 on the same day.
Yin, 25, was so disappointed with defeat, she couldn’t raise a smile while receiving the medal. But she has vowed to stage a comeback.
“After this bout, I will continue my boxing career. I won’t give up. When I go back to China, I will work even harder so I hope I can succeed in the future.”
Mossely was ecstatic that she has made history.
“I really feel like I had the upper hand on the third and fourth rounds and when they announced, just hoped and prayed,” she said. “It’s a lovely birthday present. It is a beautiful birthday present and it summarises all of these years of training and studying and it’s just a completion.”
China has sent a total of 11 boxers to the Rio Olympics, the biggest squad ever, winning one silver and three bronzes.
The International Boxing Association, the governing body of boxing in Rio, has removed some judges and referees after an outrage over fight decisions. But the association insisted that the results would stand the way they were.
Chinese boxer Lu Bin has accused the boxing judges of stealing his dreams. He was so sure he had won his match against Kenya’s Mungai Warui that he had his arm up before the judges lifted Warui’s arm.
Irish boxer Michael Conlan, a world champion, gave the judges the middle finger after a highly controversial defeat.
