MANILA, Philippines — Five female and five male boxers will join Eumir Marcial as representatives for our country at the next Olympics, however their path to Paris will include a series of tough qualifying rounds that will take place in Busto Arsizio, Italy, between February. 29 to March 12, and at Bangkok, Thailand, on May 23 to June 3.
ABAP secretary general Marcus Manalo said yesterday he anticipates “a very difficult task” to be able to compete at the international level.” As of now 109 boxers from 49 nations have secured tickets to Paris which will be via the continental route to the European Games, Asian Games, Pan American Games, Pacific Games and Africa Games. Australia has the most qualified athletes with 12, in 13 divisions. Brazil follows with 9. China is the top country in Asia with seven, followed by Thailand, Uzbekistan and Chinese-Taipei with four each. Japan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and North Korea account for two each.
There are 50 slots available to grabs during the Italy qualifiers, along with 28 for males and 22 for women. In the Bangkok qualifying there will be up to 51 boxers who will be able to progress. The IOC has given four universality slots to men in the weight categories of 57kg, 63.5kg, 71kg and 80kg divisions. Five slots are reserved for women competing in the 50kg, 54kg, 57kg and 60kg and 66kg divisions.
The Philippines is fielding a team of five male and five female boxing hopefuls for the Olympic qualifiers. The male team includes Rogen Ladon, aged 30 (51kg category), Carlo Paalam, 25 (57kg), Mark Ashley Fajardo, 19 (63.5kg), Ronald Chavez Jr., 24 (71kg), and John Marvin, 31 (92kg). Representing the women are Aira Villegas, 28 (50kg), Claudine Veloso, 24 (54kg), Nesthy Petecio, 31 (57kg), Riza Pasuit, 31 (60kg), and Hergie Bacyadan, 29 (75kg).
According to Manalo, this ten-member team completed a training session in Australia from January 14-27. They are scheduled to compete in the Boxam Tournament in Alicante, Spain, from January 29 to February 4. Following this, they will train at the Infanta Cristina High Performance Center in Los Alcazares, Murcia, Spain from February 4-28, before heading to Italy to participate in the first round of Olympic qualifiers.
