Carlo Paalam did not hide his feelings while discussing his gut-wrench campaign in Paris 2024.
Carlo Paalam could only manage to be dismayed and apologetic at the same time on Saturday night, August 3, Philippine time.
He became the latest Philippine athlete and boxer who crashed out of the Olympic Games. And it happened just minutes before gymnast Carlos Yulo secured the country's first gold medal of Paris 2024.
“Sorry talaga. Ginawa ko 'yung best ko talaga. Pasensiya sa lahat,” Paalam said in the aftermath of his quarterfinal loss to Australia’s Charlie Senior in the men’s 57kg division.
[ALSO READ: Carlo Paalam bows out in Paris 2024, succumbs to Australian foe in men’s boxing quarterfinal]
Paalam was shown the door in the Olympic Games Paris Olympics 2024 after dropping an ultra-tight quarterfinal despite landing some clean punches, unable to overcome Senior’s defensive stance and speed that ultimately secured the victory for the Australian.
The Tokyo 2020 silver medalist was visibly upset with how the fight went through, believing he connected the hits that counted the most.
“Di ko maano kasi klaro naman 'yung scores talaga sakin. ‘Yung bawi ko sa kaniya clear,” Paalam insisted.
In one of the most tightly contested fights of this Paris 2024, Senior earned the nod of three of the five judges with scores of 30-27, 29-28, 29-28. The other two marked the bout 30-27, 29-28 in favor of the pride of Cagayan De Oro.
“Dismayado. Tinyaga ko kahit marami akong injury sa legs ko, sa paa ko, pati sa balikat ko, Masakit pa siya pero pinipilit ko talaga kasi ayoko ma disappoint ang buong Pilipinas.
Paalam is now the third Filipino boxer to bow out of contention after Eumir Marcial (men’s 80kg) and Hergie Bacyadan (women’s 75kg).
The task of delivering the Philippines the elusive boxing gold in Olympic Games Paris 2024 now falls on the shoulders of Nesthy Petecio (women’s 57kg) and Aira Villegas (women’s 50kg), who will be in action today against Wassila Lkhadiri for a spot in the semifinals.
Watch the full interview here:
[With reports from Carlo Pamintuan/Cignal TV, One Sports]