Loud cheers at New Taipei City Hall as Lin Yu-ting wins gold

Taipei, Aug. 11 (CNA) Hundreds of supporters gathered at the New Taipei City Hall early Sunday morning to watch the Olympic boxing match between Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting (林郁婷) and Poland’s Julia Szeremeta in Paris.

There was a deafening cheer as 28-year-old Lin defeated 20-year-old Julia Szeremeta 5-0 to secure gold in the women’s 57-kilogram (featherweight) class.

As early as 2am, enthusiastic spectators flocked to the public venue to watch the live stream of the match, which began at 3:30am (Taipei time).

Politicians from across the political spectrum in Taiwan, including Su Chiao-hui (蘇巧慧), a lawmaker from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), and Hung Mong-kai (洪孟楷), a lawmaker from the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), also attended the event organized by the local government.

The first-floor lobby of City Hall was filled with fans, many of whom carried national flags and other cheering paraphernalia.

Every time Lin hit her opponent during the match or effectively dodged Szeremeta’s attacks, the crowd erupted in thunderous applause and cheers.

When the Taiwanese boxer finally secured her victory, there was an exuberant mood in the hall.

At the event, New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜), a KMT heavyweight, congratulated Lin’s mother, who was moved to tears of joy, on winning Taiwan’s first-ever gold medal in boxing at the Olympics.

Shortly afterwards, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) also congratulated Lin’s mother by telephone on her daughter’s achievement

Lai told Lin’s mother, “Your daughter is really great, everyone is proud of Yu-ting’s achievements.”

Lai, who is also chairman of the DPP, also thanked Hou for organising the “meaningful” event, which he said “brings people together”.