By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
The Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) is sending its 12 elite fighters to Australia this month as part of its massive preparations for the various qualifiers to the Paris Olympics.
Tokyo Olympics silver medalists Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio banner the f the squad who were all elected based on their daily performances in training as well as during the box offs over the weekend.
Joining them are Rogen Ladon, Mark Ashley Fajardo, Paul Julyfer Bascon, Ronald Chavez Jr., Marjon Piañar, John Marvin, Aira Villegas, Claudine Veloso, Riza Pasuit and Hergie Baclayan.
Ladon will be vying in the 51kg, Paalam in 57kg, Fajardo and Bascon in 63.5kg, Chavez and Piañar in 71kg and Marvin in 92kg.
Villegas, meanwhile, is preparing in the 50kg, Velsoso in 54kg, Petecio in 57kg, Pasuit in 60kg and Bacyadan in 75kg.
The team will be training at the Australian Institute of Sport from Jan. 14 to 27 before flying to Spain for a tournament from Jan. 29 to Feb. 5.
ABAP eyes as many Olympic qualifiers who can join Eumir Felix Marcial, who earned a berth to Paris after winning the silver medal in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China last year in the 80kg division.
In the previous Olympics in Paris, the country has sent four athletes in Marcial, Petecio, Paalam and Irish Magno and was able to bring home two silver (Paalam and Petecio) and one bronze medal from Marcial.
The Philippines seeks to eclipse its historic finish in Tokyo in 2021 which turned out to be a milestone to the Philippine sports history after weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz brought home the country’s first Olympic gold medal.
