THE Philippine boxing team jumpstarts its medal bid as the gymnastics trio of Aleah Finnegan, Levi Jung-Ruivivar, and Emma Malabuyo, and fencer Sam Catantan also see action on the second day of the Paris Olympics.
Aira Villegas battles Yasmine Mouttaki of Morocco on Sunday, 9:34 p.m. Paris time (Monday, 3:34 a.m. Manila time) in the women’s -50kg round-of-32 at the Arena Paris Nord.
Finnegan, Ruivivar, and Malabuyo also plunge into action in the women’s qualification at the Bercy Arena, aiming to end up in the top 24 of the individual all-around, and top eight in the apparatuses of vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise.
The three Filipina gymnasts, making their Olympic debut, have been assigned in Subdivision 4 of 5 starting on Sunday, 6 p.m. Paris time (Monday 12 midnight Manila time).
In fencing, Catantan battles Marianna Pistoia of Brazil in the round-of-32 of the women’s individual foil on Sunday, 9:30 a.m. Paris time (Sunday, 3:30 p.m. Manila time) at the Grand Palais.
Villegas will look to arrange a match-up against No. 2 seed Roumaysa Boualam of Algeria in her bout against Mouttaki, a bronze medalist in last year’s World Championship but in a lighter women’s -48kg division.
A win by Catantan, a Penn State University product, over her Brazilian opponent will arrange a clash against No. 2 seed Arianna Errigo of Italy later in the day.
Aside from a place in the all-around, Finnegan, Ruivivar, and Malabuyo will look to also compete in the final of their respective specialty apparatus.
Finnegan captured a bronze medal in the balance beam and vault, and Ruivivar in the uneven bars during the 2023 Asian Championship.
Malabuyo claimed a gold in this year’s Asian Championship in Tashkent, the same tournament where she took the Olympic spot by taking the bronze in the individual all-around.
Joanie Delgaco is also slated to race again in the women’s single sculls repechage on Sunday, 9 a.m. Paris time (Sunday 3 p.m. Manila time).
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