Nesthy Petecio needs just one more win for Paris Olympics berth

FILE–Nesthy Petecio hasn’t relinquished her dream of another Olympic stint. —POOL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Nesthy Petecio has been madly harping non-stop on a projected return to the Olympics.

The Filipina boxer’s wish is now realistically within grasp after moving over to the women’s 57kg semifinals of the World Qualification Tournament on Monday in Busto Arsizio, Italy.

“One more to go for the golden ticket to Paris,” wrote Petecio on Facebook after a unanimous decision win over Maud van der Toorn of the Netherlands.

Only two slots to the 2024 Paris Olympics are available in Petecio’s weight class, meaning she has to get past Turkey’s Esra Yildiz in the semifinals on Tuesday to advance to the finals and secure an Olympic berth.

The 31-year-old Petecio, an Olympic silver medalist during the 2020 Tokyo edition, utilized her vast experience opposite the 18-year-old Toorn to seize control in the last two rounds after falling behind in the scorecards early.

While Petecio won all of his four bouts, the 10-man Philippine boxing got decimated further when Carlo Paalam and Rogen Ladon lost their bouts.

READ: Women boxers carry PH fight in Olympic qualifers

Paalam, also a silver medalist during the Tokyo Summer Games, was forced to abandon his match with less than a minute in the second round during the last 16 of the men’s 57kg opposite Shukur Ovezov of Turkmenistan.

“Unfortunately, I sustained an injury in my last match that has not fully healed, and during the course of the fight, it became apparent that continuing would risk further damage,” wrote Paalam on Facebook.

The 25-year-old pride of Talakag, Bukidnon was thrown hard to the canvas in the third round of his split-decision victory over Andrey Bonilla of Mexico, hurting his shoulder in the process.

“As much as it pains me to step away from the ring in this manner, my health and well-being must always come first,” said Paalam.

Ladon, the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympian, also bowed out in a split-decision defeat at the hands of Kiaran Macdonald of the United Kingdom in their men’s 51kg round of 16 bout.

Aira Villegas remains in contention along with Petecio after progressing to the quarterfinals by defeating Sofie Vinter Rosshaug of Denmark in the women’s 50kg.