ABAP looking to send 4 more boxers to Tokyo Olympics

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

 

The Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) is hoping to send four more boxers and compete in the remaining qualifying tournaments heading into the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

ABAP president Ricky Vargas discussed their plans during the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum and said that they have a strong chance of landing medals with the current crop of PH boxers.

“I’m just hoping that the Olympics will push through because, this is our best chance. When I look at our boxers, we were ready for Tokyo 2020,” said Vargas.

While the Philippines already have two qualified boxers for the Olympics in Eumir Marcial and Irish Magno, the ABAP is hoping that Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam, Rogen Ladon, and Ian Clark Bautista manage to qualify as well.

To recall, the Tokyo Olympics was originally scheduled this year but the COVID-19 pandemic forced the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Japanese organizers to cancel the prestigious event.

“Mahirap hintayin ‘yung vaccine. They may have the vaccine, but normally it takes years before we’d like to risk ourselves in getting the vaccine,” added Vargas.