Philippine Boxers Impress in World Qualification Tournament
Two Filipino boxers, Nesthy Petecio and Rogen Ladon, showcased their skills in the World Qualification Tournament in Busto Arsizio, Italy, as they aim to secure spots in the Paris Olympics.
Nesthy Petecio’s Dominant Performance
Nesthy Petecio, a silver medalist in the last Tokyo Olympics, started her campaign with a decisive victory over Serbia’s Andela Brankovic in the women’s 57kg category. She impressed with her performance, forcing the fight to be stopped in the first round.
Next, Petecio will face Romania’s Maria Claudia Nechita as she continues her quest for a spot in the Paris Games.
Rogen Ladon Eyes Olympic Return
Rogen Ladon, seeking a return to the Olympics since his last appearance in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, secured a split decision victory over Italy’s Federico Emilio Serra in the men’s 51kg category. Ladon needs to make it to the semifinals to secure his place in Paris.
Up next, Ladon will go up against Morocco’s Said Mortaji in his pursuit of an Olympic berth.
Other Filipino Contenders
While Petecio and Ladon made a strong start, Riza Pasuit faced an early exit after falling to Venezuela’s Krisandy Rios. The Philippines still has several contenders vying for Olympic slots in various weight categories.
- Carlo Paalam (men’s 57kg)
- Aira Villegas (women’s 50kg)
- Mark Ashley Fajardo (men’s 63.5kg)
- Claudine Veloso (women’s 54kg)
- Ronald Chavez Jr. (men’s 71kg)
- Hergie Bacyadan (women’s 75kg)
- John Marvin (men’s 92kg)
Several Filipino boxers, including Ladon, Petecio, Villegas, and Bacyadan, have previously excelled in the Boxam Elite Tournament in Spain. The World Qualification Tournament in Italy is a crucial step for athletes to secure spots in the Paris Olympics.
This competition offers 28 Olympic slots for men and 21 for women, with the Filipino delegation looking to make the most of this opportunity.