By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Hergie Bacyadan pressed her bid for a spot to the Paris Games with a dominant first-round victory in the 2nd World Boxing Qualification for Paris Olympics on Monday, May 28, in Bangkok, Thailand.
After back-to-back setbacks by Rogen Ladon and Criztian Pitt Laurente, Bacyadan provided a beacon of hope to Team Philippines by clobbering Dunia Martinez Mas of Spain, 5-0.
That sent her to the Round of 16 of the women’s 75kg division.
So classy was Bacyadan that three judges scored 30-27 for her, one judge 30-26 and the last judge a commanding 30-25 triumph.
Bacyadan, who previously competed in wushu and vovinam before turning to boxing, will next face Veronica Nakota of Hungary, who also debuted with a bang, pounding out a similar 5-0 triumph over Sweden’s Love Holgersson.
A three-time European champion, Nakota is trying her luck for the second time after a first-round exit at the 1st World Qualification in Busto Arsizio, Italy last March.
Bacyadan also lost in the opening round in Italy, but was more determined this time in her last attempt of earning an Olympic berth.
Meanwhile, 2020 Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Carlo Paalam currently battles Turkmenistan Shukur Ovezov for a spot in the Round of 16 of the men’s 57kg class.
Paalam and Bacyadan are hoping to join early qualifiers Eumir Marcial, Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas to Team PH to the biggest sporting spectacle in Paris slated July 26 to Aug. 11.
