Reynaldo Galido, the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games gold medalist and coach of the Philippine team, believes Filipino boxers have to be more aggressive when they resume their quest for berths for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“I think we need to be more convincing. Sometimes, it looked like our boxers were winning but the opponents would get the late punches, which the judges would see,” Galido said during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Weekly Forum.
So far, the Philippines has qualified three boxers to Paris: Eumir Marcial and women punchers Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas.
Marcial got his Paris berth when he finished second in the Hangzhou Asian Games last year while Petecio and Villegas secured theirs during a qualifying event in Italy.
The second and final qualifying will be held in Bangkok in late-May until early-June with the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines looking at seeing three more earning their Olympic slots.
Spearheading the squad bound for Bangkok are veterans Rogen Ladon and Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Carlo Paalam.
Ladon and Paalam fought in Italy but failed to advance further.
Paalam suffered an injury during the crucial stages of the slugfest but should recover in time for Bangkok.
There is also hope in seeing Hergie Bacyadan join Petecio and Villegas.
To rev up for the Olympic qualifying, the boxers will head to Colorado Springs for training and competition.
A mini-camp in Thailand is also on the itinerary before they begin their quest for Olympic slots.
