Who is Janjaem Suwannapheng? Meet Imane Khelif’s next boxing opponent at Paris 2024 Olympics
JANJAEM Suwannapheng made her boxing debut at this year’s Olympics in Paris.
Dive into the story of this Thai boxer as she prepares for her semi-final against Imane Khelif at the Paris Olympics.
Who is Janjaem Suwannapheng?
Janjaem Suwannapheng is a Thai amateur boxer born on September 25, 2000.
She has made significant strides in her boxing career, earning a medal at the 2023 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships.
Janjaem competes in the 66 kg (welterweight) category.
Her achievements on the international stage include representing Thailand at the Paris Olympics.
Remarkably, she became the first athlete from Nong Khai, her small province in northeastern Thailand, to compete in the Olympics.
During the games, she showcased her skills by defeating Brigitte Mbabi from Congo in the round of 16, despite a challenging start where she was knocked down early in the match.
She continued her impressive performance by overcoming the Turkish number-one seed, Busenaz Sürmeneli, in the quarter-finals.
Janjaem also serves in the Royal Thai Air Force with the rank of leading aircraft woman.
When will Janjaem Suwannapheng fight Imane Khelif?
Janjaem Suwannapheng will fight Imane Khelif in the women’s 66kg semi-final at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday, August 6, at 9:34 PM.
The winner will advance to the final, which will take place on Friday, August 9.
Khelif‘s recent match against Angela Carini ignited widespread debate over Khelif’s gender.
Carini forfeited the bout after just 46 seconds, citing what she described as an unfair disadvantage.
IOC President Thomas Bach voiced his support for Imane Khelif, who was disqualified by the IBA in 2023 due to alleged eligibility issues.
He said: “Let’s be very clear here: We are discussing women’s boxing.
“Both Khelif and Lin are individuals who were born female, raised as women, hold passports identifying them as women, and have competed as women for many years.
“This unequivocally defines them as women, and there has never been any doubt about their gender.”
What has Janjaem Suwannapheng said about her fight with Imane?
Ahead of their semi-final bout, Janjaem Suwannapheng has shared her thoughts on facing Imane Khelif.
She told Thai newspaper Khaosod: “I’ve researched her thoroughly and know that she’s faced losses to female boxers in the past, though that was some time ago.
“I’m uncertain if she’s grown stronger or if there have been changes in her hormonal levels.
“However, I’m not intimidated by the prospect of meeting her again because I believe we’re evenly matched.
“I’ve dedicated myself to rigorous training and prepared my body well. Ultimately, strength and resilience aside, we’re both human and equipped with two fists.
“Having come this far, I’m determined to push through to win the gold medal.”
Suwannapheng had previously lost to Khelif in India in 2023.
She said her loss was due to exhaustion and her menstrual cycle at the time.