REDUCING weight was the toughest challenge that 2022 ASBC Asian Elite Men & Women Boxing Championships men's bantamweight gold medalist Carlo Paalam faced in his first major tournament after bagging a silver in the Tokyo Olympics last year.
Winning came as a surprise for him who was still adjusting to his new weight (54kg), which is two kilograms heavier than his original weight (52kg) when he competed in Tokyo. He gained so much during his over one-year hiatus since the Olympics.
In a Facebook live after his gold medal feat, the 24-year-old Paalam said: "Unang-una di ko alam kung ano ang galaw ko, excited akong makita ano ang galaw ko. Di ko alam anong gawin sa taas ng ring. Umakyat ako ng timbang, dun nag-adjust ako. Di ko alam paano dalhin sarili ko sa taas ng ring kasi mabibigat at magagaling sila (At first, I didn't know what my move was, I was excited to see how it goes. I didn't know what to do at the top of the ring. I gained weight, I adjusted. I don't know how to bring myself to the top of the ring as the other boxers were heavy and good)." he said.
He had to make sacrifices as well.
"Sobrang pagod, di makatulog kasi gutom. Ilang buwan di nakakain ng rice. Diet talaga. Mahirap magbawas ng timbang, lalo na sa timbang ko, lalo na lumaki ako. Hirap talaga ang mag lose weight, pagod at gutom. Kinakaya para sa pamilya, bayan, sarili, at coaches na magbigay karangalan (It's very tiring, can't sleep because I was hungry. I haven't eaten rice in a few months. It's sheer diet. It's hard to lose weight, especially at my weight since I've gotten bigger. It's really hard to lose weight, it's wearisome and makes me hungry. But I was able to endure to give honor for my family, country, self, and coaches)," he continued.
Paalam eked out a 4-1 split decision victory over Makhmud Sabyrkhan of Kazakhstan in their championship showdown.
Heavy-hitting Sabyrkhan, a silver medalist in the 2021 World Championships held in Belgrade, Serbia, took the second round from Paalam after engaging the Filipino in a brawl. Paalam may have gotten too cocky after dominating the opener.
But the Cagayan de Oro native recovered in the final round, unleashing combinations to secure the win.
In a Facebook post earlier, he thanked those who supported and prayed for him from the start of the tournament until bagging the gold.
"I want to thank these people for trusting and guiding me. Thank you very much to all my coaches in the Philippine team, to the Philippine Navy team, PSC family, ABAP, and CDO family, thank you very much! To my families - thank you very much, Paalam family, Burlat family, and Padilla family! Above all to my wife, Earlshane Padilla-Paalam, love, thank you!)," he wrote in Filipino.
He also said, "Naniniwala po ako na magpursige at tiwala lage sa sarili. At ang pinaka importante tiwala at pananampalataya sa Panginoon (I believe in persevering and trusting yourself. And the most important trust and faith in the Lord)."
Paalam also congratulated his teammates who saw action in ASBC, particularly, Nesthy Petecio and Hergie Bacyadan, for bagging bronze medals.
"Patuloy po nating itaas ang bandera ng Pilipinas sa ating susunod na laban (Let's continue to raise the Philippine flag in our next tournament)," he added.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. praised Paalam’s feat as he wrote on his official Facebook page, “Tayo ay nagbibigay pugay sa isa na namang Pilipinong nagtaas ng ating bandila at nagbibigay ng pagkilala sa kakayahan ng atletang Pilipino sa buong mundo. Mabuhay ka, Carlo Paalam, sa gintong medalyang iyong napanalunan sa men’s bantamweight 54kg ng ASBC Asian Elite Men and Women Championship na ginanap sa Amman, Jordan (We pay tribute to another Filipino who raised our flag and give recognition to the ability of the Filipino athlete all over the world. Long live, Carlo Paalam, for the gold medal you won in the men's bantamweight 54kg of the ASBC Asian Elite Men and Women Championship held in Amman, Jordan)!”
“Sana ay magsilbing inspirasyon ang medalyang ito sa maraming Pilipinong nangangarap din na makapagbigay ng parangal sa ating mahal na bayan (I hope this medal will serve as an inspiration to many Filipinos who also dream of giving an award to our beloved country),” the President also said. MLSA