FILIPINO boxer Nesthy Petecio got off to a rousing start, while swimmer Kayla Sanchez posted a new national record at the Paris Olympics.
Petecio outclassed Indian Jaismine Lamboria in the women’s 57 kg round of 32 to win via unanimous decision at the North Paris Arena Wednesday midnight, July 31 (Manila time).
A silver medalist at the Tokyo Olympics, Petecio earned the scores of three 30-27s and two 29-28s.
BULLSEYE! Philippines’ Nesthy Petecio (right) punches India’s Jaismine Lamboria during the women’s 57kg preliminaries round in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games at the North Paris Arena in Villepinte on July 30, 2024. AFP PHOTO
Ten years older and 6 inches shorter, the 32-year-old, 5-foot-2 Petecio easily offset Lamboria’s youth and height advantages with her speed and experience.
Petecio, the first female boxer from the Philippines to win a medal at the Olympics, battered Lamboria at will to enter the round of 16, where she will face France’s Amina Zidani on August 3 at 2 a.m. in Manila.
On the other hand, Eumir Marcial made a shock quick exit as he suffered a unanimous decision upset loss against Uzbek Turabek Khabibullaev in the men’s 80 kg round of 16 also early Wednesday.
A Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist, the 28-year-old Marcial got outpunched by the 20-year-old Olympic debutant Khabibullaev, who earned four 29-28 and one 30-27 scorecards.
Olympic silver medalist Nesthy Petecio gets into the round of 16 after beating her opponent at the Paris 2024 Games in the women’s boxing 57kg on July 30, 2024. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE PHOTO
Olympic silver medalist Nesthy Petecio gets into the round of 16 after beating her opponent at the Paris 2024 Games in the women’s boxing 57kg on July 30, 2024. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE PHOTO
Olympic silver medalist Nesthy Petecio gets into the round of 16 after beating her opponent at the Paris 2024 Games in the women’s boxing 57kg on July 30, 2024. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE PHOTO
Olympic silver medalist Nesthy Petecio gets into the round of 16 after beating her opponent at the Paris 2024 Games in the women’s boxing 57kg on July 30, 2024. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE PHOTO
Olympic silver medalist Nesthy Petecio gets into the round of 16 after beating her opponent at the Paris 2024 Games in the women’s boxing 57kg on July 30, 2024. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE PHOTO
Olympic silver medalist Nesthy Petecio gets into the round of 16 after beating her opponent at the Paris 2024 Games in the women’s boxing 57kg on July 30, 2024. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE PHOTO
Meanwhile, Sanchez established a new Philippine record during the women’s 100 m freestyle heats at the Paris La Defense Arena on Tuesday evening.
Sanchez timed 53.67 seconds and topped the previous Philippine standard of 54.25 ticks, which she set at the Mel Zajac Jr. International Meet in Canada last June.
The 23-year-old’s record-setting performance propelled her to the top 16 in the heats and to the semifinals early Wednesday.
Sanchez, however, could not make the final of the event after finishing 15th in the semis, where only the eight fastest swimmers progressed to the medal round.
Marcial and Sanchez joined gymnasts Levi Ruivivar, Emma Malabuyo and Aleah Finnegan, as well as fencer Samantha Catantan, rower Joanie Delgaco and judoka Kiyomi Watanabe on the list of Filipino athletes who are no longer in medal contention.
Fourteen out of the 22-athlete Philippine delegation are still vying for medals, including boxers Hergie Bacyadan (women’s 75 kg) and Carlo Paalam (men’s 57 kg), who were making their respective opening bouts at press time on Wednesday evening.
Gymnast Carlos Yulo was also competing for an all-around event medal late Wednesday night and will also shoot for a medal in the floor exercise and vault finals on August 3 and 4, respectively.
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