By REYNALD MAGALLON
Eumir Marcial and Carlo Paalam got a bye in the first round of their respective boxing events while Aira Villegas is kickstarting the Filipino pugs’ campaign in the 2024 Paris Olympics following the result of the brackets draw on Thursday, July 25.
Villegas is aiming for a fiery start to the Filipino boxers’ campaign when she takes on Yasmin Mouttaki of Morocco in the round of 32 of the women’s 50kg on Monday, July 29.
Should the 28-year-old Villegas advance to the second round, she will then face second seed Roumaysa Boualam of Algeria on Aug. 2
Marcial is opening his bid to surpass his bronze medal finish in the Tokyo edition against Turabek Khabibullaev of Uzbekistan in the Round of 16 of the men’s 80kg on Wednesday, July 31.
Paalam, a silver medalist in the men’s 52kg in Tokyo, then takes his turn against Jude Gallagher of Ireland also in the second round of men’s 57kg.
Like Villegas, Marcial is on a possible collision course with second seed and Puerto Rico’s Arlen Lopez who was the gold medalist in the light heavyweight class in the Tokyo edition, should he advance into the quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, the gold quest for Tokyo silver medalist Nesthy Petecio begins against Jaismine Lamboria in the round of 32 of the women’s 57kg event on Tuesday, July 30.
A win for the 32-year-old pugilist would then arrange a bout against third seed and hometown bet Amina Zidani of France in the round of 16.
Getting a tough draw, on the other hand, is Hergie Bacyadan who will lock horns with face top seed and China’s Li Qian in the round of 16 of the women’s 75kg also on Wednesday.
Li won a bronze medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics while she improved to a silver medal in the Tokyo edition.
