Paalam enters Olympic qualifiers Round-OF-16
FILIPINO boxer Carlo Paalam scored a payback win against Turkmen Shukur Ovenov in the 2nd World Qualification Tournament men’s 57 kg class at the Indoor Arena in Bangkok, Thailand, on Tuesday.
Paalam, who had to surrender against Ovenov in the 1st World Qualification Tournament due to a shoulder injury in their round of 16 match last March, defeated the latter this time via unanimous decision, 5-0.
The Tokyo Games silver medalist thus entered the round of 16, keeping his Olympic return bid alive in this last pathway to the Paris Olympics.
Paalam opened his campaign with a unanimous win against Greek Alexie Lagkazasvili on May 24.
The 25-year-old needs to finish at least in third place in his division to clinch an Olympic berth.
The 5-foot-4 slugger has to make the finals to secure that Paris Games slot and avoid the risk of losing it in the battle for the third match.
Paalam and Hergie Bacyadan are the last two standing Filipino boxers in the tournament.
Bacyadan advanced to the round of 16 women’s 75 kg after dispatching Dunia Martinez via unanimous decision on May 27.
Bacyadan has to make the semifinals of her division to gain an Olympic slot.
Paalam and Bacyadan look to join teammates Eumir Marcial, Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas, who have already clinched their Olympic berths.
Marcial, a Tokyo Games bronze medalist, clinched his Paris Olympics berth after reaching the 19th Asian Games men’s 80 kg final in Hangzhou, China, last October.
Petecio, a Tokyo Olympics silver medalist, made her Olympiad return by reaching the women’s 57 kg finals in the 1st World Qualification Tournament in Busto Arsizio last March.
Villegas, on the other hand, is set to make her Olympic debut after making it to the semifinals of the women’s 50 kg also in the 1st World Qualification Tournament.