Filipino boxer Carlo Paalam kept his gold-medal hopes alive after eking out a 3-2 split decision victory over Kazakhstan’s Makhmud Sabyrkhan in their thrilling and bloody men’s 55kg semifinals clash in the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 on Wednesday, September 30, at the Nishio Gymnasium in Japan.
Paalam, the last man standing for the six-man Philippine men’s boxing team, started aggressively and finished off what he started in a physical third round where the 2020 Tokyo Olympics silver medalist had to overcome a point deduction from the referee before ousting the two-time world champion.
Paalam, who is now assured of at least a silver medal for the Philippines , proved that his previous win over Sabyrkhan was no fluke.
During their first meeting four years ago, Paalam defeated Sabyrkhan via a 4-1 split decision in the bantamweight final of the 2022 ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships in Amman, Jordan to claim the gold.
Now, the 28-year-old Paalam sets his sights on the country’s first Asiad boxing gold in 16 years. Rey Saludar is the last Pinoy boxer to mint an Asian Games gilt in Guangzhou 2010.
Standing in Paalam’s way is Japan’s hometown bet Rui Yamaguchi, who advanced to the final round after booting out Mongolia’s Bilguunsaikhan Kharkhuu via a 5-0 unanimous decision. They will duke it out for the coveted gold on Friday, October 2.
Meanwhile, tennis star Alex Eala outclassed Joanna Garland of Chinese Taipei in straight sets, 7-5, 6-0 to punch a ticket into the women’s singles semifinals at the Nagoya City Higashiyama Park Tennis Center.
The World No. 18 Eala ousted Garland to bolster her bid to end the Philippines’ 64-year gold-medal drought in the quadrennial Games. Phl last won a gold through Johnny Jose at the fourth edition of the continental multi-sport event in Jakarta, Indonesia in 1962.
In women’s beach volleyball at the Hekinan Ryokuchi Beach Court, the Filipino spikers posted contrasting results.
The tandem of Khylem Harl Progella and Sofiah Shanine Pagara marched into the semis after booting out Japan’s Non Matsumoto and Ran Matsumoto, 2-0 (24-20, 22-20).
In the other quarterfinal match, Cebuana Cherry Ann Rondina and Bernadeth Pons were not as fortunate, losing to Thailand’s Taravadee Naraphornrapat and Worapeerachayakorn Kongphopsarutawadee in a three-set thriller, 1-2 (17-21, 21-12,13-15).