Chinese Taipei’s Yu-Ting Lin (red) and Philippines’ Nesthy Petecio fight during their women’s feather (54-57kg) preliminaries round of 16 boxing match during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo on July 26, 2021. (Photo by Buda Mendes / POOL / AFP)
TOKYO–Nesthy Petecio moved a win away from securing a medal in the Tokyo Olympics here.
Petecio advanced to the women’s featherweight quarterfinals after taking down top-ranked Lin Yu-Ting of Chinese Taipei Monday at Kokugikan Arena.
“She stuck to the tactics, without overcommitting,” said coach Don Abnett. “[She was] getting into her punching range, getting her opponent to lead off and then can her with one or two punches or combinations.”
In a close fight that had a sparse Filipino audience, mostly sports officials, holding their breath, Petecio dominated the first round, got cured into a deadlock after two and then masterfully chalked up crucial points in the third without surrendering anything to seize the victory.
“Coach Boy [Velasco] was telling me that we were ahead and I just had to take care of the leads,” Petecio said.
A win by Petecio in the quarterfinals will assure her of at least a bronze medal.
“Let’s just take this step by step,” Petecio said.
Lin, the world No. 1 and overwhelming favorite in the bout, could not sustain the rally she mounted in the second round and was left completely flummoxed by Paetecio’s frequent stance-switching in the game.
“She made much more effort than me and I did not take my chances so I can only blame myself,” said the 5-foot-7 Lin, who was much taller and lengthier than Petecio, who needed to aim high when going after the Taiwanese’s head.
RELATED STORIES
Nesthy Petecio dominates foe, advances to round of 16
Despite breezy first win, coaches want more from Nesthy Petecio
Petecio approaches Tokyo Olympics with new mindset, clean slate
