JAKARTA – Nesthy Petecio immediately fell in her first match in the 18th Asian Games, losing to Yin Junhua of China, a defeat that Philippine boxing federation officials felt was unfair.
Petecio lost by split decision in the women’s 57kg division preliminary bout, ending her hopes of a medal.
Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines secretary general Ed Picson blasted the result of the bout, saying that Petecio should have won the fight.
Picson said the Bulgarian and Russian judge gave the bout to Yin, while the Turkmenistan and Japanese judge saw Petecio winning the fight.
He described the loss as a ‘travesty.’
“There’s really nothing much we can say,” Picson said. “We all saw what happened. It’s just so sad that at a time when boxing is fighting hard to retain its spot in the Olympics, something like this happens. It’s heartbreaking.
Picson said he will speak to officials on Saturday about the result of the bout.
“I will try to talk to the supervisor. He even emphasized that we could expect fairness in this competition,” Picson said.
Although protests are not allowed, Picson feels that the judges in Petecio’s fight should no longer be assigned to bouts featuring Philippines fighters.
“Protests are not allowed but I will appeal that the judges responsible for this travesty not be assigned to officiate in the coming Philippine fights as judges or referees. I think that is fair,” Picson said.
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