Carlo Paalam overcame a shoulder injury to secure his spot in the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
It might have been a longer road to qualifying for Paris 2024, but Filipino boxer Carlo Paalam will return for redemption in the Olympics.
Paalam, who settled for a silver medal finish in Tokyo 2020, secured his ticket to Paris after conquering India’s Sachin Siwach via unanimous decision in the men's 57kg event of the 2nd Olympic Boxing Qualification Tournament in Thailand.
Like Hergie Bacyadan, Paalam will compete in the Olympic Games with fellow Pinoy boxers Nesthy Petecio, Eumir Marcial, and Aira Villegas.
[ALSO READ: LIST: Filipino athletes qualified for the Olympic Games Paris 2024]
Prior to his qualification, Paalam had been dealing with a shoulder injury, which forced him to withdraw from the World Qualification Tournament in Busto Arsizio, Italy, in March.
Paalam sustained the injury after being slammed onto the canvas in the third round of his split decision win against Mexico's Andrey Bonilla.
But now that the pride of Bukidnon will be back to complete his redemption story in the Olympics, Paalam is taking things one step at a time.
“Diskarte lang talaga at tiwala sa sarili. Gagawin lang namin ‘yung best namin tapos nasa Taas na rin talaga kasi at least wala akong pinagsisihan [at] talagang nilaban ko,” Paalam told Chiqui Roa-Puno after his match.
[ALSO READ: Nesthy Petecio shares sentimental throwback pic following Carlo Paalam’s Paris 2024 qualification]
With experience by his side, Paalam knows it will take a lot to avenge the gold medal defeat he experienced in Tokyo 2020.
“Siguro 'yung disiplina at tsaka tiwala sa sarili ko saka 'yung buong pusong lalaban talaga,” Paalam bared on how different he was compared to four years ago.