Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham Tolentino announced on Monday, June 17, that star boxers Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam will serve as the flag bearers for the Philippines at the upcoming 2024 Olympic Games, scheduled to be held in Paris, France.
LEADING THE CHARGE 🇵ðŸ‡
— Team Philippines (@pholympicteam) June 17, 2024
Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio have been selected as Team Pilipinas’ flag bearers for the Opening Ceremony.#LabanPilipinas | #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/CrSJEpOe1u
The POC chose Petecio and Paalam due to their splendid exploits in the previous Olympics held in Tokyo in 2021, where the duo won silver medals in their respective disciplines.
Petecio secured her spot in Paris in March after defeating Esra Yildiz Kahraman of Turkey in women’s 57kg division in the World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Italy. Paalam, meanwhile, only earned his place earlier this month after beating India’s Sachin Siwach in the men’s 57kg class in the second Olympic Qualification Tournament in Bangkok, Thailand.
Petecio and Paalam are among the five Filipino boxers who will be traveling to Paris for the Summer Games. Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Eumir Marcial and Olympic debutants Hergie Bacyadan and Aira Villegas are the others.
The Philippines will also be sending its largest boxing delegation to the Olympics since Atlanta 1996, where they also sent five boxers.
So far, 15 athletes from the Philippines have secured qualification for the Summer Games, and here we take a look at those 15 athletes.
More athletes from the country are expected to join the 15 in Paris, with golfers Dottie Ardina and Bianca Pagdanganan among the top 60 women, while track and field stars Lauren Hoffman, Kristina Knott, and John Tolentino await their fate as they look to qualify for the showpiece event via the world rankings quota.
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