By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
The Philippine team will go home empty-handed from the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships Nesthy Petecio bowed out in the second round Tuesday, March 22, in New Delhi, India.
The Tokyo Olympics silver medalists yielded to Venezuela’s Omailyn Alcala via split decision, 3-2, in their 54-57 featherweight. Teammates Aira Villegas and Riza Pasuit were earlier eliminated.
Petecio led the scorecards in the first two rounds, but Alcala displayed more aggressiveness in the third to snatch the win from Petecio who was left bewildered.
A triumph could have booked her a quarterfinals berth and arranged her a meeting with third seed Karina Ibragimova of Kazakhstan, who prevailed over Azerbaijan’s Mahsati Hamzayeva via referee-stopped-contest at the 1:50 mark in the third round.
The Davaoeño fighter, who opened her bid with an upset victory over sixth seed Guy Tianna of Trinidad and Tobago two days back, offered no excuses with her loss despite having to compete while having her monthly period.
“So proud of myself! Getting better and better! Para sa akin, achievement ito!” Petecio wrote on her social media.
“Hirap na hirap ako lumaban before kapag meron talaga, like, gusto ko mahiga, matulog na lang, ayaw gumalaw, tamad na tamad… Pero today! Masaya ako! Siguro sa iba hindi big deal… pero sabi ko nga po, panuorin nyo na lang yung laro!”
