I knew Paalam has what it takes to qualify for Paris -- Tolentino

Source: The Manila times

MANILA, Philippines -- CARLO PAALAM found himself reeling against the ropes but amazingly managed to squeeze out of his predicament and is now on his way to Paris.

"I always believed that Carlo is a certified Olympian," said Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino moments after Paalam put away the fifth and last stumbling block -- India's Sachin Siwach -- for his return to the Olympics after clinching gold in boxing's men's flyweight in Tokyo 2020.

"The setback in Italy was just temporary as he proved that he could qualify for the Olympics by winning all five bouts here in Bangkok," Tolentino added.

The odds went against Paalam in the first Olympic qualifying tournament last March in Busto Arsizio where he couldn't continue because of a shoulder injury.

At the second and last Paris qualifiers in Bangkok, Paalam toppled five opponents in a week's span for his Olympic ticket -- Greece's Alexei Lagkazasvili (5-0), Turkmenistan's Shukur Ovezov (5-0), Armenia's Artur Bazeyan (4-1), the Dominican Republic's Jose Feliz de los Santos (5-0) and finally Siwach (5-0).

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Paris Olympics berths went to the last four standing boxers in all divisions in Bangkok.

"I know and feel Carlo could bring his winning act to Paris," said Tolentino, who's in Bangkok with his POC secretary-general Atty. Wharton Chan to cheer the Filipino boxers sent by the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines led by chairman Ricky Vargas.

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Paalam became the country's 14th athlete to qualify Paris after fellow boxers Eulir Felix Marcial, Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas, fencer Samantha Catantan, gymnasts Carlos Yulo, Emma Malabuyo, Aleah Finnegan and Levi Jung-Ruivivar, as well as pole vaulter EJ Obiena, weightlifters Vanessa Sarno, John Febuar Ceniza, and Erleen Ann Ando and rower Joanie Delgaco.

Hergie Bacyadan went for her own Paris ticket in women's 75 kgs class against Venezuela's Maryelis Yriza on Sunday afternoon. TMT