By MARK REY MONTEJO
After a short break, members of the national boxing team – male and female – are bracing for another rigorous – make it non-stop – training as the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) intends to send at least two more fighters in Paris for the Summer Olympics starting this July.
There are so far three fighters in the PH delegation after Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas punched their tickets in the first edition of the qualifiers held in Busto Arsizio, Italy.
The remaining Olympic hopefuls will make a bid once again in the 2nd World Qualification Tournament in Bangkok, Thailand slated May 23 to June 3.
ABAP Secretary General Marcus Manalo said the national team members will resume training, including holding a camp at the US Olympic Training Center in Denver, Colorado starting April 9, and later on joining a week-long tournament to be held in the same American state from April 14-21.
“Tuloy-tuloy parin ang mga camps and may mga tournaments parin, babalik kaagad sila ng training kasi meron kaming April 9 na alis na to US Olympic Training Center, para sa isang short training camp,” said Manalo during Tuesday’s PSA Forum at at the Rizal Memorial Complex in Manila.
Manalo, who was joined by official Karina Picson, coaches Reynaldo Galido and Mitchel Martinez, said they will vie in the 2024 International Invitational in Pueblo, Colorado to test their mettle against the Americans and other hopefuls from different countries.
“Yong mga hindi pa nag qualify and kahit si Aira (Villegas) will be competing there, para ma-maintain parin ‘yong rhythm, and after that balik kami sa Manila for two weeks,” Manalo continued.
“Tapos aalis na ulit kami papuntang Thailand for training camp before the tournament,” he added.
The national boxing team will to fly to Thailand on May 9, two weeks earlier than the actual start of the qualifying tournament.
Also joining the team is Eumir Marcial who clinched an Olympic berth after advancing to the finals in the last year’s Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
And before the Olympics, the association is also planning to hold a camp in Germany.
“We’ll finalized pa, pero pagkatapos nitong Bangkok qualifiers do’n na ipa-plot specifically [kung] papano ‘yong magiging preparations nila pero definitely we will joining the training camp in Germany,” Manalo added.
The Philippines has already six qualified athletes for the Games with world No. 2 pole vaulter EJ Obiena distinguishing himself as the first Olympic returnee, having booked his slot ahead of Marcial.
Also going to the fashion capital of the world are gymnasts Aleah Finnegan and Tokyo Games veteran Carlos Yulo.
