Nesthy Petecio clinches Paris berth, and the hard work just continues

Nesthy Petecio is headed to the Paris Olympics boxing competition. –OLYMPICS PHOTO

Nesthy Petecio again reached the Olympics after defying tall odds in the world qualifiers, and she knows that the uphill trek continues all the way to the 2024 Games in Paris.

A glimpse at the Filipino Tokyo Olympics silver medalist’s list of opponents tells Petecio that she has to be at her absolute best to win in the glitzy French capital, with rival and world champion Lin Yu-ting of Chinese Taipei there along with world featherweight silver medalist Irma Testa of Italy and Kazakhstan’s Karina Ibragimova.

“Competing in Paris is an entirely different level. I have to be better out there,’’ said Petecio, who clinched an Olympic spot after topping Turkiye’s Esra Yildiz Kahraman in the semifinals of the World Qualification Tournament on Tuesday in Busto Arsizio, Italy.

READ: Nesthy Petecio, Aira Villegas qualify for Paris Olympics boxing

There’s no love lost between the 31-year-old Petecio and Lin, after she beat the rangy Taiwanese in the round-of-16 in Tokyo before eventually collecting that silver after bowing to hometown bet Sena Irie.

The 5-foot-7 Lin had her revenge in the Asian Games (Asiad) in Hangzhou, China, last year by booting out Petecio early in their women’s 57-kilogram bout before seizing the gold medal herself.

Petecio also narrowly defeated the taller Testa in Tokyo, using her speed to bedevil the Italian, who will be seeking revenge in Paris. “I am so blessed. This is very important for me because maybe this is my last Olympics,’’ said Petecio, who will be accompanied by fellow lady boxer Aira Villegas in Paris.

Other Olympians

They have been booked to join Tokyo Olympic boxing bronze medalist Eumir Marcial come July along with pole vaulter EJ Obiena and gymnasts Carlo Yulo and Aleah Finnegan.

Villegas secured an Olympic quota with a unanimous decision victory over Bulgaria’s Zlatislava Chukanova in the quarterfinals of the women’s 50 kg.

READ: Nesthy Petecio’s plunge not dimming her Olympic hopes

Other formidable opponents that Petecio could face in her second Olympics are Asiad bronze medalist Parveen Hooda of India, European qualifiers Svetlana Staneva of Bulgaria, Amina Zidani of France and Asian qualifier Mijgona Samadova of Tajikistan.

Pacific Games champion Tina Rahimi of Australia and Pan American Games medalists Ashleyann Lozada of Puerto Rico, Venezuela’s Omailyn Alcala and Colombia’s Valeria Arboleda are as daunting as well.

“I got this ticket for so many people, especially my family, to God, and for our former (Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines) president (Ed Picson) who died. And for my partner in life,” said Petecio.