Nesthy Petecio begins Asian Games bid vs Chinese Taipei rival

FILE–Philippines’ Nesthy Alcayde Petecio. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa

HANGZHOU, China—A medal in the Asian Games is the only hardware lacking in Nesthy Petecio’s crowded trophy room.

Petecio is determined to add the 19th Asian Games to her collection, starting off her bid against long-time rival Lin Yu Ting of Chinese Taipei on Friday at the Hangzhou Gymnasium here.

“This is going to be a tough one, but I have prepared well for this fight,’’ said Petecio in Filipino of her clash with Lin in an early battle between the top contenders in women’s boxing’s 57kg class.

There’s no love lost between Lin and Petecio following several skirmishes in the ring.

Petecio defeated Lin during the round of 16 of the Tokyo Olympics, winning by the skin of her teeth, 3-2, before advancing to the finals where the Filipino lady pug ended up with a silver medal.

Lin secured a bronze medal in the 2018 edition in Palembang, Indonesia while still fighting at 51kg, while the 32-year-old Petecio remains on the lookout for a podium performance in the Asiad.

“I only went as far as the quarterfinals,’’ said Petecio, unable to land a medal in 2018 and 2014 held in Incheon, South Korea.

Petecio will be the last to debut for the nine-man boxing team.

Heavyweight John Marvin scored a Referee Stopped Contest (RSC) against Nepal’s Rabin Nepal to progress, joining Olympic medalists Carlo Paalam and Eumir Marcial in the next round.

They will attempt to give the national boxing team its first gold medal since flyweight Rey Saludar in the 2010 Guangzhou, China version.