By MARK REY MONTEJO
Tokyo Games silver medalist Carlo Paalam and three other Filipino boxers are in a must-win situation as they try to punch their tickets to the Paris Games when they compete in the last Olympics Boxing Qualification tournament at the Indoor Stadium Huamark in Bangkok, Thailand starting Friday, May 24.
Paalam, Roger Ladon and Hergie Bacyadan are expected to go all-out in their respective divisions after their botched bids in Busto Arsizio, Italy last March.
Also hoping to secure a ticket to the Paris Games is Chriztian Pitt Laurente.
In March qualifiers, the 25-year-old Paalam was weighed down by a shoulder injury and exited in the Round of 16 of the men’s 57kg division.
Though most of his top rivals have already qualified, Paalam is not taking his rivals lightly knowing full well they are all fueled by their desire to see action in the global sporting spectacle.
Paalam needs to finish in the podium to make it to Paris.
Ladon is also looking for a second Olympic appearance having competed in the Rio Games.
The pride of Bago City, Negros Occidental is set to compete in the men’s 51kg where four qualifying spots are on offer.
Similar numbers are also at stake in the women’s 75kgs with Bacyadan hoping to secure one of them.
Meanwhile, Laurente, who outclassed Mark Ashley Fajardo for a spot in the national team, has a higher possibility to qualify as five tickets are available in the men’s 63.5kg category though the tasks ahead as expected will be tighter and heavier.
The Philippines currently has already three qualified boxers, including Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Nesthy Petecio (women’s 57kg), Tokyo bronze winner Eumir Marcial (men’s 80kg) and Aira Villegas (women’s 50kg).
