Filipino boxers Carlo Paalam and Hergie Bacyadan. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News and IG/hergiebacyadan

Tokyo Games silver medalist Carlo Paalam and rookie Hergie Bacyadan launch their bids in the 2024 Paris Games on Wednesday at the North Paris Arena, both eyeing to join Aira Villegas among the early winners.

Bacyadan, the pride of Tabuk, Kalinga, is in for a tough challenge as he is up against the top seed in Chinese Li Qian in the round-of-16 of the women’s 75kg class.

Paalam, on the other hand, collides with young but aggressive Jude Gallagher of Ireland also in the round-of-16 of the men's 57kg class.

At 5-foot-10, Li has the height and length advantage over the 5-foot-6 Bacyadan. She is also fuelled by her unfinished business in the Olympics, having won bronze in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and silver in the Tokyo Games in 2021.

But the Filipinos are highly motivated as well, and the boxers' campaign got off to a strong start thanks to Aira Villegas who won her bout against Yasmine Mouttaki of Morroco in the round-of-32 of the women's 50kg division.

READ: Aira Villegas takes down Moroccan foe, advances to round-of-16

Bacyadan is in action at 6:04 p.m., Philippine time, and Paalam follows at 9:30 p.m.

Boxing has accounted for eight of the Philippines' 15 medals since the country first started competing in the Olympics 100 years ago, though the gold has remained elusive for the pugilists.

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