By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
The country resumes its bid to earn more berths to the 2024 Paris Olympics when 10 Filipino boxers compete in the World Qualification Tournament starting Sunday, March 3, in Busto Arsizio, Italy.
The PH contingent arrived at the Italian municipality last Thursday, Feb. 29, after spending weeks at an intensive training camp in Spain with hopes of boosting their chances to get tickets to Paris.
A total of 21 Olympic slots for women and 28 seats for men are at stake in the event that has 13 weight categories.
The tournament is also the first of the two world qualification events, the last one being held in Bangkok, Thailand on May 23 to June 3.
Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio, who both won silver medals in the men’s and women’s 57kg divisions at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, seek return trips to the Games as they banner the PH crew that is also composed of Rogen Ladon (51kg), Mark Ashley Fajardo (63.5kg), Ronald Chavez Jr. (71kg) and John Nobel Marvin (92kg).
Completing the cast are female fighters Aira Villegas (50kg), Claudine Veloso (54kg), Riza Pasuit (60kg) and Hergie Bacyadan (75kg).
Pending the draw results which are being held at posting time, the first session scheduled on Sunday will have the women’s 60kg, men’s 63kg and men’s 71kg. The second session set in the afternoon will have the men’s 51kg and men’s 92kg.
Five sessions are scheduled on Monday, March 4, with Session 3 composed of fights in the women’s 50kg, women’s 54kg, women’s 57kg and women’s 75kg. The mid-afternoon session will have men’s 57kg and men’s 80kg while the night session will be composed of bouts in the men’s 57kg and men’s 80kg.
The competition will run until March 11 with four Olympic berths at stake in most weight classes.
That means boxers must reach at least the semifinals to make it to the Games — except in the women’s 57kg where it only offers two tickets, and in the women’s 60kg where it allocates three seats.
So far, only Eumir Marcial has qualified to Paris after a silver medal finish in the men’s 80kg in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China last September.
