By Nick Giongco
Flyweight Irish Magno took advantage of a rare chance to secure an Olympic slot after she posted a dominating win over Somaiya Qosimova of Tajikistan in the Asia-Oceania Olympic Qualifying Tournament on Wednesday in Amman, Jordan.
Philippines' Irish Magno makes Olympic grade after beating Tajik foe Somaiya Qosimova.
Magno was awarded a 5-0 victory and it came just a day after being denied an outright entry following a loss in the quarterfinals.
Since there are six slots being dangled in her weight class, Magno, being a quarterfinalist, was afforded the luxury of a boxoff.
But flyweight Carlo Paalam, another quarterfinalist, wasn’t so lucky after bowing to Kazakhstan’s Saken Bibossinov, the 2019 world championships bronze medalist, in another boxoff, 4-1.
Like in Magno’s case, Paalam needed a win in the boxoff to ensure himself of a ticket to the Tokyo Olympics.
Magno’s victory enabled her to join top seed middleweight Eumir Felix Marcial on the early list of qualifiers for the July 24-August 9 Olympics.
READ MORE: Boxer Eumir Marcial secures 2020 Tokyo Olympics berth
The five other Filipinos who faltered, including Paalam, will have their last chance when Paris stages the World Qualifying in mid-May.
Others who failed to make a dent in Jordan also include feather Ian Clark Bautista and welter James Palicte and women punchers Nesthy Petecio, the top seed at featherweight, and lightweight Riza Pasuit.
Philippines' Irish Magno celebrates after defeating Somaiya Qosimova. (Screengrab from Olympic Channel)