AN Asian Games medal continues to elude two-time Olympian Nesthy Petecio.
The 34-year-old double Olympic medalist was outshone and outworked by Yang Chengyu of China, 5-0, in their Asiad quarterfinals clash in the women’s 60kg class on Monday at the Nishio gymnasium.
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Yang, a gold medal winner in the 2023 World Championships, displayed superb footwork and hand speed in dashing Petecio's hopes of finally winning a first-ever Asiad medal.
The Chinese was so dominant, she won the bout by scores of 30-26 in all of the five judges’ scorecards.
Yang is now assured of a bronze medal finish by advancing to the semifinals.
The loss closed another chapter in Petecio’s bid to bag the only medal missing in her trophy case after similar exits in the 2014 (Incheon), 2018 (Palembang), and 2022 (Hangzhou) edition of the continental showcase.
Petecio will already be 39 by the time the next Asiad comes in 2031 in Doha, Qatar.
Fighting at her heaviest weight class, Petecio struggled early with Yang's aggressive stance and was deducted a point in the opening round for repeated clinching.
The Chinese won the first round in all of the five judges' scorecards and eventually, kept control of the match from thereon.
Petecio won a pair of medals in the Olympics - silver (Tokyo 2020) and bronze (Paris 2024) fighting at th feathwerweight class.
Unfrortunately, her regular weight class at 57kg was stricken off in the Nagoya Asiad.
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