ABAP seeks 3 Olympic berths, Kazakh training

PALEMBANG, Indonesia – With the four-gold medal haul of the boxing team, the boxing association is looking forward to participation by two to three male boxers and at least one female boxer in the London Olympics next year.

Boxing excutive director Ed Picson said at least two more will be given the chance to compete in the Asian qualifying tournament.

Mark Anthony Barriga, who lost as early as the quarterfinals of the boxing competitions, has already qualified for London by virtue of his silver medal finish in the world qualifying in Uzbekistan this year.

Asia has been allotted 56 slots, of which 30 have already been filled, with the rest to be disputed in the Asian and world qualifying next year.

National head coach Pat Gaspi said there is the likelihood that only Josie Gabuco (46kg) and Alice Kate Aparri (48kg) will get the chance to compete for a slot in the distaff side, which accepts entries only in the 51kg, 60kg and 69kg divisions.

“We are happy with our four-gold medal win,” said ABAP secretary general Pato Gregorio, referring to the wins of lightweight Charly Suarez and light welterweight Dennis Galvan in the men’s division and Aparri and Gabuco in the women’s side.

“We could have won six or seven, because we had big chances with Rey Saludar  (2010 Asian Games gold medalist), Barriga and Nesthy Petecio (silver medalist),” said Picson. “But the breaks were not with us.”

Picson said the training program of the boxers will continue, possibly with elite training in Kazakhstan.

“They have a good training camp there and our boxers will have the chance to compete in the many collegiate tournaments there,” said Picson.

Thailand won seven gold medals, one silver and one bronze out of 10 boxers it fielded. The only loser was Saylom Ardee, who bowed to Suarez in the semifinal.

On top of four gold medals, the Philippines had one silver from Petecio,an outright semfinalist, and a bronze from Saludar, the losing semifinalist.