By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
The number of Filipino athletes to the Paris Olympics starting this July is growing.
Nesthy Petecio booked a return trip to the global sporting showcase while Aira Villegas realized her cherished dream after outpointing their respective rivals in the World Qualification Tournament in Busto Arsizio, Italy on Monday, March 11 (Tuesday in Manila).
Petecio displayed brute strength and excellent combinations to score a 4-1 decision over a heftier Esra Yildiz Kahraman of Turkey for a Top 2 finish in the women’s 57kg.
The Tokyo Olympics silver medalist dictated the first two rounds and held her ground in the third to earn a slim 29-28 win from four judges.
Villegas, meantime, mustered enough courage and guile to score a unanimous decision over Bulgarian Genadieva Zlatislava Chukanova in the quarterfinals of the women’s 50kg bout.
It was a tough win for Villegas, who earned the nod of the two judges while the remaining three giving the bout a 28-all tie.
The three judges then made a vote in favor of the Filipino pug as per the boxing rulebook for the Paris Games.
With their wins, Team Philippines now has six Olympic qualifiers that include boxer Eumir Marcial, pole vaulter EJ Obiena and gymnasts Carlos Yulo and Aleah Finnegan.
Marcial clinched an Olympic ticket in September last year after capturing the silver medal in the men’s 80kg.
Boxers still have a chance to qualify to the Games for one last time in May through the second World Olympic Qualification to be held in Bangkok, Thailand.
A total of eight Filipinos composed of Rogen Ladon, Carlo Paalam, Mark Ashley Fajardo, Ronald Chavez Jr., John Marvin, Claudine Veloso, Riza Pasuit and Hergie Bacyadan, made exits in their respective weight classes in this Italy tilt.
