TOKYO. – Determined to keep the country’s bid for a second gold medal going, former world champion NesthyPetecio overwhelmed Colombian Yeni Marcela Arias Castaneda on Wednesday, scoring a unanimous 5-0 victory to advance to the semifinals of the Tokyo women’s boxing competition at the Kokugikan Arena here.
The victory assured the Philippines of another medal, a bronze, two days after weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz ended the country’s 97-year search for an Olympic gold by ruling the women’s 55kg weightlifting class.
Aside from solidifying the country’s most successful campaign in the quadrennial games, Petecio’s quarterfinals victory in the 54-57kg class assured the country of its first boxing medal in 25 years since Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco bagged the silver medal in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
It also assured the country of its first multiple-medal campaign in the games in 89 years since the 1932 edition, when high-jumper Simeon Toribio, boxer Jose Villanueva, and swimmer Teofilo Ydefonso all won bronze medals.
Petecioeyes a finals slot, and a sure silver medal, on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. (Philippine time) when she battles Italy’s Testa Irma, who whipped Canadian foe Caroline Veyre by the same dominant 5-0 score to also clinch a semis berth.
“I am so happy for this moment. This is my first Olympics and I have won my first medal. I don’t really know how I feel right now,” said Petecio, who was teary-eyed when the referee raised her hand.
She has already won thrice here, needing two more to capture gold.
“This tournament is proving so special to me, I am just so blessed,” added Petecio, who earned scores of 30-27 from two judges and 29-28 from the other three.
Petecio has already eliminated the biggest stumbling block in her quest for glory here by defeating top seed and world’s No. 1 Li Yun-Ting of Chinese-Taipei via a split decision victory on Monday.
Ranged against a Colombian foe who hadbeaten her in the 2018 World Championships in New Delhi, India, Petecio was cool and calculated with her pinpoint combinations in the first round, prompting Castaneda to fight more aggressively in the second. But the 2019 winner of the World Championships in Russiakept her focusand picked her shots, frustrating the Colombian with nifty counters from start to finish.
“We watched the Colombian the other day and she was very aggressive so the plan was to try and counter-punch, but she changed her plan today and stood there just waiting for Nesthy,” said the Philippine team’s Australian, coach Don Abnett.
“In the second round they were too close, they were wrestling. We told Nesthy not to turn the fight into a scrap but to pick her punches as she has the talent to do that,” added Abnett.
On Thursday, Eumir Felix Marcial, considered one of the favorites to win a gold medal here, makes his Olympic debuts against Younes Nemouchi of Algeria in the 69-76kg division at 10:48 a.m. (Philippine time), while Irish Magno, fresh from her 5-0 demolition of Kenyan Christine Ongarein the 48-51kg, takes on Thailand’s JutamasJitpong next at 12:24 p.m. (Philippine time).
Carlo Paalam, who opened his campaign with a 4-1 win over Ireland’s Brendan Irvine, fights Algeria’s Mohamed Flissi on Saturday at 10:48 a.m. (Philippine time). — With Bong Pedralvez
Also going into action Thursday is golfer JuvicPagunsan, the country’s lone entry in men’s golf.
