Nesthy Petecio stamps class to reclaim SEA Games featherweight gold
Southeast Asian Games – Boxing – Chroy Changvar Convention Centre Hall G, Phnom Penh, Cambodia – May 14, 2023 Philippines’ Nesthy Alcayde Petecio reacts after winning gold against Indonesia’s Ratna Sari Devi in the women’s 57kg category REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa
PHNOM PENH—Nesthy Petecio taught Indonesia’s Ratna Sari Devi a neat lesson in boxing on the way to reclaiming her women’s featherweight title at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games.
The Tokyo Olympics silver medalist fired shells with pinpoint accuracy throughout the one-sided contest, fetching her another gold medal in these Games after topping the same division in the 2019 edition in Manila.
Petecio, however, felt bad that younger brother Norlan ended up with a silver medal in the men’s welterweight finals encounter against a vastly experienced Bunjong Sinsiri of Thailand.
“I made sure to win this fight for my brother,’’ said Petecio, who capped a glorious campaign for Team Philippines atop the ring by capturing the country’s fourth gold medal.
Paul Bascon (men’s lightweight), Carlo Paalam (bantamweight) and Ian Clark Bautista (featherweight) likewise won gold medals in their respective divisions.
Filipino boxers closed out their stint here supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee with four golds, five silvers and one bronze.
John Marvin suffered the same fate as Norlan Petecio in the light heavyweight class while flyweight Rogen Ladon, bantamweight Irish Magno, light welter Riza Pasuit and Petecio also dropped their finals matches.
