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Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games
SportBoxing

Tokyo Olympics: Nesthy Petecio roars into gold medal contention after sensational semi-final win

  • Petecio will now fight to become only Philippines’ second gold medallist
  • At 29, it could be the featherweight’s last shot at Olympic glory

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Philippines’ Nesthy Petecio is into the featherweight gold medal bout after defeating Italy’s Irma Testa. Photo: AP
Paul Rydingin Tokyo
Filipino featherweight Nesthy Petecio did just enough to edge Italy’s Irma Testa and earned a place in the final in the featherweight boxing category at Tokyo 2020 on Saturday and became the first boxer from her country to fight for a gold medal.

The Southeast Asian Games gold medallist came through a tough bout against Testa, the reigning European Championship winner, claiming the split decision win on points at the Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo courtesy of a barnstorming final round.

“This means so much to me as not only it is my dream, it is my father’s dream,” an emotional Petecio said. “It’s not for me, it’s for my family, my country and for all the people from the Philippines who have prayed for me. I love you, I love you.”

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Petecio dug deep in the final two rounds of the bout, after the Italian comfortably took the opening round, to put herself on the brink of becoming only her country’s second gold-medallist after weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz scooped weightlifting gold last Monday.

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The Filipino adapted her strategy to the taller woman in the second round, focusing her offensive work on Testa’s body and it worked. The Italian was forced to hold on to her fired-up opponent for a reprieve from the body shots.

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