Paalam settled for silver medal

By LITO DELOS REYES

DAVAO CITY (Aug. 7) – Carlo Paalam of Cagayan de Oro lost by a split decision to Galal Yafai of the United Kingdom in the finals of the XXXII Olympic men’s flyweight (48-52 kg) division today at the Kokugikan Arena in Japan.

The 23-year-old Paalam was downed in the 1st round after he was hit by a left and right combination by Yafai.

Paalam tried to come back in the next two rounds but Yafai was quick to retaliate with his jabs. He, however, earned the second silver medal for the Philippines.

The first silver medal was earlier bagged by Nesty “Nesh” Petecio of Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur, who bowed to Japan’s Sean Irie in the finals of the women’s featherweight (54-58kg) division.

Teammate Eumir Felix Marcial of Zamboanga City settled for a bronze after a split decision loss to Oleksandr Khyzhniak of Ukraine for the men’s middleweight (69-75 kg).

Khyzhniak, however, was knocked out in the 3rd round by Hebert Conceicao Sousa of Brazil in the finals.

Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz was the first-ever Filipino athlete who won a gold medal in the Philippines ‘ 97-year bid to the Olympics.

Diaz bested her opponents in the Women’s 55 kg Weightlifting Category of the ongoing Tokyo Olympics on July 26, with a set record of 224 kg.

It is the largest medal haul for the country in Olympic history, and the highest medal haul among Southeast Asian countries participating in Tokyo.

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