Courtesy: POC
Carlo Paalam made a spectacular return from a year-long injury layoff, successfully advancing to the quarterfinals of the men’s 55kg boxing competition at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
The Tokyo Olympic medalist beat Commonwealth Games silver medalist Jadumani Mandengbam of India, via split decision, 3-0.
“Mahusay din ang Indian, kapag bago gusto nila matalo ang may pangalan na. Nakisabay na lang ako sa kanya (aggresiveness) sa huling round”, said by Paalam to POC Media.
He is coming off a year-long absence from competition due to injury, but confident that with guidance from coaches Ronald Chavez and Elmer Pamisa, he will get successful results.
Paalam, bronze medalist in the 2018 Jakarta Asiad, will vie for a semifinal spot against Jiamao Zhang of China on Monday, September 23.
Meantime, Nesthy Petecio opened her 2026 Asian Games bid with an impressive RSC win in the women’s 60kg, dominating Mays Alreem Abukhadijah of Jordan in their round-of-16 match.
The Tokyo and Paris Olympics medalist Petecio, who got all the judges nod in the first round, forced two standing eight counts before the referee stopped the bout with 1:51 left in the second round.
Petecio will next face Cheng Yu Yang of China in the last 8 also on Monday.
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