The Philippines has prepared a five-man boxing squad to the final Asian Olympic qualifying in Kazakhstan this month amid dismay of a hopeful boxer to grab the country's first Olympic gold medal dropping out over injuries, local media reported Monday.

Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (Abap) president Manny T. Lopez said the five men team, including Doha Asian Games medalist Joan Tipon, were picked up based on their performances in recent training, the Philippine Daily Inquirer said Monday. "Let us unite and pray for the success of the team," said Lopez. "The boxers know their mission fully and they are determined to succeed."

The Philippines wishes to win the country's first Olympic goal medal in the Beijing Games this August, hopefully in boxing, where Filipino athletes were thought to hold competitive strengths.

However, only Harry Tanamor, who finished at the second place in 2007 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Chicago, the United States, had been qualified to compete in the Beijing Games so far.

The Kazakhstan qualifying, the second and final Asian Olympic qualifying slated from March 16 to 24, is seen as the last straw for Filipino boxers eyeing an Olympic goal.

Only a few days ago, Abap announced that Violito Payla, the flyweight champion in the Doha Asian Games, would never make it to the Beijing Games because his left shoulder injury had prevented him from fighting at Kazakhstan qualifying.

Local newspaper lamented that Payla's absence was a "big blow" to the country's Olympic goal pursuit. Godfrey Castro, who fought as a light-flyweight in salvaging a bronze medal in 2006 Doha Games, had filled in Payla's space, Abap said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 10, 2008)