Asian Games: Dismal start for PH boxers as Petecio, Bacho crash out

Yin Junhua of China (red) and Nesthy Petecip of Philippines (blue) compete during the women’s feather 57 kgs boxing round of 16 at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta on August 24, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / MONEY SHARMA

A couple of Filipino boxers were booted out of contention as Nesthy Petecio and Joel Bacho suffered similar losses Friday in the 2018 Asian Games Friday at JIExpo in Jakarta.

Petecio lost to China’s Yin Junhua in the round of 16 via split decision, 3-2, in the women’s featherweight division.

Bacho suffered the same fate after a 4-1 loss to Iran’s Sajjad Kazemzadeh Poshtiri in the round of 32 in the men’s welterweight division.

Joel Bacho of Philippines (in red) competes against Sajjad Kazemzadeh Poshtiri of Iran (in blue) during the men’s welter 69 kgs boxing round of 32 at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta on August 24, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / MONEY SHARMA

The Philippines, though, still has six boxers who are still in the hunt for a medal finish.

Eumir Marcial, who won gold medals in the welterweight and middleweight divisions in the two previous Southeast Asian Games, will face Macau’s Ng Kuok Kun in the round of 16 in the men’s middleweight division.

Carlo Paalam advanced to the round of 16 of the men’s lightweight division while Irish Magno will duke it out against Pang Chol Mi of the People’s Republic of Korea in the round of 16 in the women’s flyweight division.

James Palicte will face Uzbek fighter Shunkor Abdurasulov in the round of 16 in the men’s lightweight division while Rogen Ladon will go up against Nepal’s Prem Chaudhary in the men’s flyweight division.

Lastly, Mario Fernandez will take on Iraq’s Jaafar Abdulridha ali Al Sudani in the round of 32 in the men’s bantamweight division.