The University of Baguio community is happy after two more of its students athletes are getting tickets to the Tokyo Summer Olympics this July.
This after the International Olympic Committee Boxing Task Force (IOC-BTF) has sent confirmatory notices of qualification for 2019 world champion Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam.
They will join another UB student Irish Magno and Eumir Marcial to the postponed Olympics. The two earned their slots in the Amman, Jordan qualifier in March last year.
“I have already relayed the good news to sir (UB president) Javier (Herminio Bautista),” UB athletic director Alan Elegado told the RNG Luzon through private message.
“And the athletes have already sent their regards to our president,” he added.
In giving the nods to Petecio and Paalam, the IOC-BTF based their qualification for having the highest standing in their respective weight categories.
Marcial will be fighting in the men’s middleweight class (75 kg), Magno in the women’s flyweight (52 kg), Petecio in the women’s featherweight (57 kg) and Paalam in the men’s flyweight (52kg).
They are now in Thailand for their training.
In an Alliance of Boxing Association of the Philippines release, president Ricky Vargas expressed elation over the news that four of their boxers will be going to the biggest stage.
Vargas also rallied the Filipino to give their support to the boxers.
“Let us all come together and focus on the challenges ahead not only of our boxers but all Filipino athletes. Now, more than ever, they need us to stand firmly behind them,” Vargas said in the release.
“This is really great (for UB),” Elegado added as the news of the inclusion of the two UB boxers came before the win of Jenelyn Olsim in the ONE Championship.
Olsim choked Mira Mazar ending their fight in the 42 second frame of the third round. It was Olsim’s debut fight in the biggest mixed martial arts stage.
Elegado is also hopeful that the top Filipino archer, Jason Feliciano, will make it to the Philippine archery team. The grade 12 is in Dumaguete honing his skill and where he is expected to play in the Olympics qualifier.
He said that Feliciano will be seeking a seat in the qualifier by April.
