Janjaem Suwannapheng
Janjaem Suwannapheng is a Thai amateur boxer. She won a medal at the 2023 AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships.
Early life
A native of Nong Khai, a small province bordering Laos across the Mekong, Suwannapheng began boxing at 12 with Muay Thai, as her family owned a gym. She also joined her high school's boxing club. Fighting under the name "Nongbee Por.Prasith", she won seven straight bouts before running out of opponents and switching to amateur boxing, coached by her high school teacher, Chartsuphong Phulad.She earned a place on the national team while in grade 12, though her mother still doubted she was truly a national athlete. Upon graduation, her mother accepted her diploma because she was away training.
2024 Summer Olympics
Suwannapheng represented Thailand at the 2024 Summer Olympics in the women's boxing 66 kg category.In the second stage, she defeated Brigitte Mbabi from the Democratic Republic of the Congo 4–1. In the first round, she was hit by a right hook and fell to her knees for the referee's eight count. In the quarter-finals, she defeated Turkish number one seed Busenaz Sürmeneli 4–1.
Suwannapheng lost to Algerian Imane Khelif 0–5 in the semi-finals. She was counted eight by the referee in the third round, giving her the bronze medal. She is the only Thai boxer to capture a medal at this Olympics.