By REY C. LACHICA
PARIS – While she was brilliant in her win over a taller Jaismine Lamboria of India on Tuesday, Nesthy Petecio needs to raise her level of game a notch higher in her next fight in the women’s 57kg division in the Paris Olympics on Friday, Aug. 2.
For one, Petecio will not only be facing a third-seeded professional fighter but a Frenchwoman at that. And she hails from Villepinte in Seini-Saint-Denis where the North Paris Arena is located.
Nor for anything else, that is a big concern for the coaching staff of the Philippine boxing team.
So when Petecio takes on Amina Zidani in the round-of-16 at 8 p.m. (2 a.m. Manila time), she better brings her A-game if she is to inch closer to another podium finish just like in the Tokyo Games where she won a bronze medal.
“Kailangan stick lang strategy, yun lang,” said Petecio
The 30-year-old Zidani is perfect in five pro fights highlighted by two knockout wins including a second round stoppage over Borena Tsertsvadze.
Unlike Lamboria who is 5-foot-9, the Frenchwoman is not that tall at 5-foot-5 that coach Reynald Galido sees a fast and exciting showdown.
“Magandang laban ito,” Ronald Chavez, another member of the coaching, added.
Against Lamboria, Petecio needed some time before making her bold, and that is a likely scenario.
Petecio’s speed – not to mention her footwork – and counter attacks will again come into fore in her important match.
But Petecio has one request for all the Filipinos who wish to watch her fight: “Sana ang Pilipinas ang isisigaw nila kaysa sa pangalan ko,” said Petecio.
Two other Filipinos – rower Joanie Delgaco and swimmer Jarod Hatch – will see action on Friday – both hoping to come up with respectable performances.
Delgaco will be battling it out for 19th to 24 places in the women’s single sculls at the National Olympic Nautical Stadium of Île-de-France in Vaires-sur-Marne.
No matter what happens to that, Delgaco has already achieved something that she can be proud off – one of them being the second best Asian rower in the 24-player field.
Tied and weary, Delgaco finished fifth in her semifinal C/D, clocking 8 minutes and 00.18 – her slowest clocking since the prelims of the 2,000-meter contest that vstarted on Saturday.
But she consoled herself by beating fellow Asian Fatemeh Mojallaltopraghhale of Iran who timed 8:06.23.
Hatch, meantime, has a mountain to climb if he is to advance in the semis of the men’s 100m butterfly at the sparkling Paris La Defense Arena.
One of his rivals is already a legend in American Caeleb Dressel owner of the world and Olympic record – 49.45 seconds.
Hatch, on the other hand, has personal best of only 52.87 which he established last year in the World Aquatics last year in Japan.
