Kellie Harrington will fight for an Olympic gold medal on Sunday after winning her lightweight semi-final by split decision in Tokyo this morning.
Harrington, the division's top seed, saw off the challenge of Thailand's Sudaporn Seesondee in the Kokugikan Arena to secure at least silver in her first Games.
Having received a bye into the last 16, the 31-year-old Dubliner beat Italy's Rebecca Nicoli and, on Tuesday, Algeria's Imane Khelif in the quarter-final to guarantee herself at least the bronze medal.
But now she can attempt to join Katie Taylor as an Olympic gold medal winner, after Taylor's success at London 2012.
Harrington had beaten Seesondee in the 2018 world championship final, and the Thai's corner had their homework done - employing similar tactics to Harrington, biding her time before striking, and both boxers played it safe in the first round and were twice told to engage by the referee.
Harrington got through with some good shots, including a left hook, and took it 3-2 on the judges' cards, and the second round was just as tight, with Harrington ahead on two cards, level on two and down on one by the end of it.
So it was still all to play for but Portland Row's beloved boxer came through strongly in the final round, keeping her nerve and scoring well as her opponent came forward, hoping to turn the tide.
However Harrington had done enough in the end to take the bout 3-2 with the judges. The gold medal fight is at 6am on Sunday morning.
"It’s fantastic, Olympic silver medallist," Harrington smiled. "That’s the stuff that people dream about.
"Many tried to get there, many don’t have what it takes to succeed because they don’t have the willpower, the determination, the focus, the dedication.
"I eat, sleep and breathe boxing. I’ve had heartbreak. I know what it is to fail and I know how hard it is to pick yourself back up after that."
