World Qualifying Tournament-Bangkok, Thailand

Proud member of our elite national squad and Victorian boxer, Adrian Paoletti, recently travelled to Bangkok, Thailand and competed in The Boxing Road to Paris 2nd World Qualification Tournament.

The Boxing Road To Paris 2024 consisted of seven qualification tournaments held between June 2023 and May 2024. Five continental qualifications occurred in 2023 whilst two world qualification tournaments were held between March and May 2024. A total of 248 Olympic quota places were up for grabs, with 124 for women and 124 for men, across 13 different weight categories.

Adrian fought at the 1st World Qualifier in Busto Arsizio, Italy but was eliminated during the round of 64 by former European youth silver medallist, Greece’s Vangelis Nanitzanian. After this tournament concluded, only 28 quota positions remained across seven male categories going into the last World Qualifier in Bangkok.

Another tough draw for Adrian in Thailand saw him exit in the round of 64 again after facing three-time Polish national champion and 2023 European Games bronze medallist, Mateusz Bereznicki.

After competing for the Australian under-19 team in 2012, Adrian rejoined national ranks by winning gold at the 2023 Australian Elite Championships & Pacific Games Qualification Event in Scarborough, awarding himself the opportunity to represent his country at prestigious tournaments such as these World Qualifiers. Since his national triumph in 2023, Adrian has been a valued and respected part of our elite team which has also offered him the opportunity to advance his skills and knowledge of the sport.

After beating New Zealand fighter Malcolm Matthes at the Honiara Pacific Games, Adrian was so close to securing Olympic qualification last year but lost narrowly in the final to 2020 Tokyo Olympian Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali from Samoa.

Despite defeat in Honiara, Adrian reaffirmed his spot on the national team after a majority decision victory over fellow Australian boxer Ikenna Enyi at Canberra’s AIS combat centre in January which allowed him to fight in Italy and Thailand.

Despite his two eliminations and Olympic journey coming to an end, Adrian has gained vast experience after going through high intensity training camps and fighting against some of the best in the world.

We are so proud of Adrian’s efforts and support him entirely in whatever the future brings.