Another Filipina medalled for the Philippines.
Featherweight boxer Nesthy Petecio stuck with her calculating, modern boxing technique, methodically defeating Colombian brawler Yeni Arias via unanimous decision in quarterfinals action Wednesday at the Ryogoku Kokukidan.
The ambidextrous Petecio accurately landed counterpunches in the first round as Arias tried to start aggressively but awfully missing on her combinations.
Petecio convinced the judges even further in the second round, connecting on an early three-punch combination, as the Colombian continued to press on.
It was a defense-offense clinic on the third round as Arias tried to scramble her way for an upset, but Petecio handled her attacks with grace.
With the win, Petecio is assured of a medal, the Philippines’ first in boxing since Mansueto Velasco’s silver medal finish in Atlanta 1996.
Petecio will next face the taller Irma Testa of Italy, a quarterfinalist in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
As Petecio was fighting, swimmer Remedy Rule repeated yesterday’s speed, as she was still at 15th place in the semifinals of the women’s 200 m. butterfly swim at the Tokyo Aquatics Center.
Rule clocked two minutes and 12.89 seconds, which is a tad slower than her performance in yesterday’s heats.
China’s Zhang Yufei once again lorded the pool with a time of two minutes and 4.89 seconds.
This concluded Rule’s Olympic campaign, as she became the first Filipino to reach the swimming semifinals since Roosevelt Abdulgafur in 1968.
This caps Team Philippines’ campaign on Day 5 of the Tokyo Olympics.
Boxers Eumir Marcial and Irish Magno will fight tomorrow while golfer Juvic Pagunsan will open his campaign on the course.
Photo credit: neshpetecio Instagram
