Kickboxer Claudine Veloso has shifted into boxing in a bid to secure a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The Southeast Asian Games gold medalist told DAILY TRIBUNE that she already got the green light from Samahang Kickboxing ng Pilipinas president Senator Francis Tolentino to try her luck in a different discipline for a ticket to the Summer Games.
Veloso bared that the Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines has tapped her to compete in the women’s 54-kilogram division.
“The Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines asked me if I could fight for them in the 54-kg division. Our president allowed it so I grabbed the opportunity,” Veloso said during Monday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Awards Night held at the Diamond Hotel.
“My walking weight is 55-kgs so I’m working on shaving four kilos so that I could get my strength while I recover from my weight. (But) I’m used to it.”
Veloso joined the boxing training pool in Australia this month along with Tokyo Olympics silver medalists Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam.
She will get a crack at a Paris seat at stake in the 2024 Boxing 1st World Qualification Tournament slated on 29 February in Busto Arsizio, Italy.
“I have mixed emotions over this because of all the Filipino athletes, I will be given the chance to participate in the Paris qualifiers,” she said.
Veloso also cherished the opportunity to train with Petecio.
