CARLO Paalam continued to move forward in his quest to return to the Olympics after barging into the semifinals of the World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Bangkok, Thailand late Friday night.
The 25-year-old pride of the Philippines - a silver medalist in the 2020 Tokyo Games - dominated Feliz Delos Santos of Dominican Republic in the quarterfinals of the men’s 57 kg, 5-0, and moved a win away from clinching a berth to the Paris Olympiad.
Paalam will formally clinch a spot in the world meet with a win against Sachin Siwach of India in the semis.
The 5-foot-9 Siwach, a gold medal winner in the 2016 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships in Russia, advanced following a 4-1 decision against Olympian Samuel Kistohurry of France.
The two tangle on Sunday at the Indoor Stadium Huamark in the Thai capital.
More chances of winning
Hergie Bacyadan, the other Philippine bet, then hopes to get to within a heartbeat of clinching a berth to the Paris Games when she goes up against Veronika Nakota of Hungary in the women’s 75 kg category Saturday afternoon.
Nakota - who originally fought for Ukraine, but transferred to Hungary in the aftermath of the Russian invasion - was the 2022 Youth World Champion.
“Obviously, she’s a very talented boxer,” said Marcus Manalo, secretary-general of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines.
“Because of the war, she decided to move to Hungary to continue her training and since then, has been competing for that country.”
Bacyadan is coming of a resounding 5-0 victory over Spain’s Dunia Mas Martinez.
READ: Bacyadan advances to make up for Laurente loss in Olympic qualifiers
And for her biggest fight yet, national coach Ronald Chavez laid out this basic fight plan:
“Kailangan lang mag-busy ang pang-jab nya para makahanap ng opening bago niya bitawan ang straight niya. At dapat masaktan niya kaagad para mag-alangan nang pumasok,” said Chavez.
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