Thai boxer Janjaem Suwannapheng is guaranteed at least a bronze medal after defeating Busenaz Surmeneli of Turkey in their women’s 66kg quarter-final bout on Saturday evening at the Olympics in Paris.
Janjaem, 23, was declared the winner on points on the scorecards of four of the five judges in the bout at the North Paris Arena in Villepinte.
The two-time world championship medalist will next face the daunting task of defeating Imane Khelif, the Algerian at the centre of a huge storm over gender eligibility. She defeated Anna Luca Hamori of Hungary, who lasted all three rounds, in the evening’s other quarter-final in the 66kg division.
The semi-final bout is scheduled for 3.30am Thailand time on Wednesday morning and the world will be watching, given how Khelif's presence at the Games has polarised opinion.
In Olympic boxing, two bronze medals are awarded: one to each of the losing semi-finalists.
Janjaem is the last of eight Thai boxers, male and female, left standing in Paris. Her victory followed disappointment earlier on Saturday for compatriot Chuthamat Raksat, who was defeated by Wu Yu of China in the women’s 50kg quarter-finals.
Wu was declared the winner on points, 5-0, over the 31-year-old from Buri Ram, who had been a silver medallist at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year.
Chuthamat Raksat of Thailand lost her quarter-final against Wu Yu of China in the women’s 50kg division. (Photo: Reuters)
