Paalam gets shot at Asian Games gold

FILIPINO boxer Carlo Paalam advanced to the 20th Asian Games men’s 55-kilogram (kg) class gold medal round after earning a close semifinal split decision win against Kazakh Makhmud Sabyrkhan at the Nishio Gymnasium in Japan on Wednesday afternoon. Three judges favored Paalam, 29-27, 29-28, 29-27, while two deemed Sabyrkhan the winner, 29-27, 30-26, in the slugfest. Throwing solid punches including a right straight that shook Sabyrkhan in the second round, Paalam secured a silver medal and his highest finish in the continental meet. The Olympic silver medalist snared a bronze at the 2018 Asiad edition in Indonesia. Coached by Elmer Pamisa, Paalam said the bout turned out to be a battle of tactical counters. “He’ll come forward, and I’ll just stick to my game. We’ll just make sure we’re the first to counter,” said Paalam. Paalam overcame a point deduction from the referee in the physical third round which he lost, 26-30. Digging deep into his endurance, Paalam said he showcased the immense Filipino fighting spirit to sway the judges in the last two rounds which he won, 29-28, 29-27. “I’m showing the referee that we’re Filipinos, that this is our blood. Even if we have to fight to the death, we’ll give it everything in the last...