SEA Games 2023: Olympic boxers Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio strike gold for Philippines

Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medallist Carlo Paalam defeated Indonesia's Aldoms Suguro in the men's 54kg boxing division by a unanimous decision at the Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia on Sunday (14 May).

Fellow Olympic silver medallist in Japan, Nesthy Petecio, also won her gold-medal bout in the women's 54-57kg category after beating Ratna Devi of Indonesia, also by a unanimous decision.

Paalam, who won his Olympic medal in the 51kg division, claimed his second boxing title at the Southeast Asian Games, winning his first in 2019. The flyweight is also an Asian Games bronze medallist.

"This was a good run, to be back in the SEA Games and complete the process, as I missed the last one because I took a break after the Olympics,” the 24-year-old told Olympics.com exclusively ringside at the Chroy Changvar Convention Center in Phnom Penh .

"I feel comfortable in the 54kg category, but from now the focus is the Olympics and I need to bring my weight under 51kg for that before the Asian Games, which is the first Olympic qualifying meet.”

"The feeling is great right now, with all the support that's been pouring in, especially from back in my hometown Cagayan de Oro. This is inspiring me to push on towards the Olympics and aim higher this time."

There’s only one place higher than silver, as Paalam knows only too well.

Filipina Nesthy Petecio claims featherweight gold at SEA Games 2023

Nesthy Petecio, meanwhile, was seeking redemption after a frustrating bronze finish at the last SEA Games in Vietnam.

She started how she meant to go on, with perfect scores, before closing in on the featherweight title, her sixth SEA Games medal and second gold. The 31-year-old is also the 2019 featherweight world champion.

"It was not easy, (there were) tough bouts all through the competition, so this is why it was good to come here," Petecio told Olympics.com. "Plus this time it was extra special for me because I am at the SEA Games with my little brother (Norlan Petecio) and he won a silver medal, so we're a happy family!"

Norlan had earlier taken the silver in the men's welterweight (67kg) after losing the final to Thailand's Bunjong Sinsiri. But the siblings have a further gold taget in mind.

"Of course, the next target will be the Olympics and we go into a training right after this, there'll be a training camp in Thailand before the Asian Games, and fhen the focus would be on competitions to qualify for the Olympics."

• The 2023 Asian Games take place in Hangzhou, China, from 23 September to 8 October.