BOXERS Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam have been chosen as the Philippine flag bearers for the Paris Olympics opening ceremony on July 26.
Silver medal finishers at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, Petecio and Paalam return to the Games with the hopes of getting a golden one this time.
Petecio qualified for the Paris Olympics after making it to the finals of the 1st World Qualification Tournament women’s 57 kg division in Busto Arsizio, Italy, in March.
Denied an earlier Olympic entry through the same tournament due to a shoulder injury, Paalam bounced back and claimed his Olympic berth at the 2nd World Qualification Tournament last month in Bangkok, Thailand, as posted on Manila Times.
There, Paalam punched his ticket by making the finals of the men’s 57 kg class.
Petecio and Paalam are joined by teammate Eumir Marcial, who also made his Olympic return after claiming a bronze medal in Tokyo.
Aira Villegas and Hergie Bacyadan, meanwhile, make their debut in the Olympics as they complete the five-athlete contingent of the Philippine boxing team in Paris.
The other Filipino athletes who qualified for the Olympics are pole vaulter EJ Obiena, fencer Samantha Catantan, rower Joanie Delgaco, gymnasts Carlos Yulo, Aleah Finnegan, Emma Malabuyo and Levi Ruivivar, as well as weightlifters Vanessa Sarno, Elreen Ando and John Ceniza.
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