ON TO THE NEXT ROUND. The Philippines’ Carlo Paalam (left) beats Uulu Munarbek Seiitbek of Kyrgyzstan, 4-1, in the 19th Asian Games men’s boxing 54 kg round of 16 at Hangzhou gymnasium in China on Saturday (Sept. 30, 2023). The 2020 Tokyo Olympic silver medalist will take on Carlo Khalokov Abdumalik of Uzbekistan in Tuesday’s (Oct. 3) quarterfinal round. (Photo courtesy of PSC-POC Media Pool)
HANGZHOU, China – Carlo Paalam hopes to follow fellow Olympian Eumir Marcial to the boxing semifinals of the 19th Asian Games here, but will be up against reigning world champion Carlo Khalokov Abdumalik of Uzbekistan in Tuesday’s quarterfinal round.
Paalam climbs the ring against the 23-year-old Uzbek at 7:30 p.m. at Hangzhou gymnasium.
The Tokyo Olympics silver medalist needed to dispatch Uulu Munarbek Seiitbek of Kyrgystan, 4-1, in the round of 16 on Saturday to reach the quarterfinals.
“Halos lahat sila sa division namin magaling (Almost everyone in our division are good),” the 25-year-old Filipino said of the stacked roster in the men’s 57 kg class, where is fighting for the first time.
Head coach Ronald Chavez likes the chances of Paalam opposite Khalokov.
“Kaya ni Carlo talunin ‘yan (Carlo can beat him),” Chavez said, unmindful of the fact that Paalam is the shortest in his division given that he moved up from 54 kg where he competed in the Olympics.
Marcial, 27, knocked out Weerapong JongJoho of Thailand Sunday with 14 seconds left in the second round to advance to the 80 kg semifinals where at least a bronze awaits.
The men’s basketball team, Gilas Pilipinas, also made it to the quarterfinals with an 80-41 victory over Qatar. It will face Iran Tuesday at noontime.
In the weightlifting event at Xiaoshan Sports Centre Gym, Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz placed fourth in the women's 59kg division.
She finished with a 97 kg in snatch and a 126 in clean & jerk for a total of 223 kg.
North Korea's Kim Ilgyong ran away with the gold medal, setting new world records in snatch (111 kg) and clean & jerk (135), for 246 kg.
The 32-year-old Diaz ruled the 55 kg in Tokyo but the event was dropped from the 2024 Olympics, forcing her to move up.
"I pushed myself to the limit to represent my country. I'm so happy to represent the Philippines. Because there's no Olympic weight for 55, I have to compete in the 59 -- and I want to qualify for the Olympics and win gold for the Philippines in Paris,” she told the media, as quoted by Olympics.com.
"What gives me the motivation to continue even though I've been 21 years in the sport is my love for sport and to inspire young athletes." (PSC-POC Media Pool/PNA)
