By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Not even a point deduction in the opening round could stop Hergie Bacyadan from inching closer to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Fueled by her desire to step into the sports’ biggest stage, Bacyadan unleashed all her might to overcome Veronika Nakota of Hungary and move one win away from securing an Olympic spot in the 2nd World Boxing Qualification in Bangkok, Thailand on Saturday, June 1.
She edged her Ukraine-born quarterfinal rival in the women’s 75kg by the slimmest of margins, 3-2, with the three referees favoring the 29-year-old Filipino into a round of countback after scorecards were tied at 28.
Bacyadan was deducted midway the first round for excessive holding, but she upped her tempo with combination and clear shots in the next two rounds to outpoint her opponent.
Another win for Bacyadan would earn her a ticket to Paris, where she will join early qualifiers Eumir Marcial, Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas.
But first, she has to hurdle another dangerous rival in Venezuela’s Maryelis Yriza, who also survived a tough bout against Uzbekistan’s Aziza Zokirova with a 3-2 split decision.
