By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Hergie Bacyadan became the fifth Filipino boxer to clinch a qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics after winning her semifinals match in the 2nd World Boxing Qualification for Paris Games in Bangkok, Thailand on Sunday night, June 2.
Bacyadan secured the coveted Olympic berth by outpointing Venezuela’s Maryelis Yriza in the women’s 75-kilogram division event in a tightly-contested Final Four round encounter.
Bacyadan, who is a world champion in the vovinam event, shared that she was happy to fulfill her dream of securing a qualification for the Summer Games and vowed to work harder to secure a medal finish.
“Well, I am just happy because, before I got this, I already experienced a lot. I got sick and my performance [was] not okay since. Sometimes in practice, I think that I cannot do it, so my family, they pushed me,” Bacyadan said.
“My job here in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament is finished, and now I will work harder, double my effort for the upcoming big event, which is the Paris Olympics,” she added.
Bacyadan will join Carlo Paalam, who secured his Paris ticket on Saturday, June 1, as well as Tokyo silver medalist Nesthy Petecio, Tokyo bronze medalist Eumir Marcial, and Aira Villegas.
In addition to the Filipino boxers, other athletes set to compete in Paris include pole vaulter EJ Obiena; fencer Samantha Catantan; gymnasts Carlos Yulo, Aleah Finnegan, Emma Malabuyo, and Levi Ruivivar; rower Joanie Delgaco; and weightlifters John Ceniza, Elreen Ando and Vanessa Sarno.
Philippine Olympic Committee chair Abraham Tolentino, who personally went to Bangkok to witness the Filipino boxers, said he was happy that the number of Pinoy boxers in the Olympics had increased to five.
“Absolutely thrilled to announce that the Philippines now has five boxers qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics!” Tolentino said.
“A huge shoutout to Hergie Bacyadan, our fifth warrior punching her ticket to Paris! Let’s rally behind our athletes as they make history!” he said.
“I always believed that Carlo is a certified Olympian. 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,” he added./ASC, WDJ