Women boxers carried the day for Team Philippines and cushioned the loss of Olympic silver medalist Carlo Paalam late Sunday night in the First Olympic World Qualifier at Busto Arzizio, Italy.

Tokyo Games Hopefuls

Tokyo Games silver medalist Nesthy Petecio scored a resounding victory, dominating Dutch fighter Maud Van der Toorn with a 5-0 decision. This win propelled her into the semifinals of the match, bringing her one step closer to securing a coveted berth in the Paris Olympics later this year. Alongside Petecio, Aira Villegas also showcased her prowess in the ring, shutting out Sofie Vinter of Denmark with another impressive 5-0 victory. Villegas’s triumph propelled her into the quarterfinals, further bolstering her bid for a spot in the Paris Olympics.

“Aira and Nesthy had dominant wins earlier and they will definitely go for the Olympic quota tomorrow,” Marcus Manalo, the executive director of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (Abap), told the Inquirer in a message early Monday morning.

Tokyo Games Dreams

While Villegas and Petecio continue to chase their Olympic dreams, their paths to the Games are not without challenges. Petecio, a featherweight contender, faces the hurdle of limited quota slots in her weight class, making her journey to the Olympics all the more arduous. Despite these obstacles, both Petecio and Villegas remain determined to secure their spots on the Olympic roster.

Unfortunately, the road to Olympic glory hit a snag for Carlo Paalam. The Cagayan de Oro native was forced to withdraw from his bout against Turkmenistan’s Shukur Ovezov due to an injury sustained in his previous victory over Mexican Andrea Bonilla. Paalam’s shoulder injury, incurred when his Mexican opponent slammed him to the canvas, proved too debilitating for him to continue the fight. Despite efforts to manage the pain, Paalam was unable to throw punches with his right arm, prompting his coaches to halt the bout in the second round to prevent further damage.

Image source: Philippine star