WILL it be Tokyo all over again for Nesthy Petecio?
The veteran Filipina seeks a quarterfinals berth in the Paris Olympics early Saturday morning against hometown bet Amina Zidani in the women’s 57kg Round of 16.
Petecio faced a similar obstacle during the Tokyo Games four years ago when she faced Japanese Sena Irie for the gold in the same weight category. Irie won the bout unanimously, 5-0.
Irie, who lost to Petecio in the quarterfinals of the 2019 World Championship in Russia, has since retired.
Fast forward to now and the Philippines' pride admitted getting pressured on the eve of her bout against Irie.
“Imagine ninyo, matutulog na ako that time, laban ko kinabukasan, pag-angat ko ng kumot ko, flag ng Japan yung nakita ko. Ganun katindi yung pressure na naramdaman ko that time,” she recalled of her first Olympic stint.
Against Zidani, the 32-year-old Olympic silver medalist will have an expectedly full-house crowd at the North Paris Arena against her, especially with the French woman climbing the ring for the first time after drawing a bye in the Round of 32.
Zidani, 30, is ranked No. 3 in the weight class and was a bronze winner in the 2023 World Championships in New Delhi. She’s competing in the Olympics for the first time.
Former national boxing coach Nolito ‘Boy’ Velasco also acknowledged it’s going to be a tough fight for Petecio, but believes the Filipina has an advantage as far as Olympic experience is concerned.
“Medyo mahirap, host ang kalaban,” said Velasco, now retired, but was the one who worked Petecio's corner when she became the first and only Filipina boxer so far to win an Olympic medal.
“Kaya dapat hindi mag-pabaya. Doble sipag dapat.”
Likewise, the older brother of Olympic medalists Mansueto ‘Onyok’ and Roel Velasco noted the road to a podium finish remains challenging even if Petecio gets past Zidani.
“Nakaabang din kasi yung Chinese sa quarterfinals,” Velasco said, referring to Xu Zichun, who battles Valeria Arboleda of Colombia in the round.
“Tinalo niya (Xu) yung nag-bronze sa Tokyo (Irma Testa) na tinalo rin ni Nesthy,” said Velasco.
Xu eked out a 3-2 decision against Testa in the Round of 32.
Petecio, on the other hand, triumphed over the Italian pug via 4-1 decision in the semis in Tokyo to advance to the gold medal round.
Velasco stated the rise of Chinese boxing has something to do with having Cuban coaches in its team, including former Philippine head coach Raul Liranza.
“Ang China, malakas din kasi ang coaches nila puro Cubans na,” he added.
Villegas vs. home crowd, as well
Incidentally, a French opponent also awaits Filipina Aira Villegas in the women’s 50 kg quarterfinals.
Villegas, who turned 29 the other day, will fight Wassila Lkhadiri early Sunday morning in the battle for a semifinals berth and an assured podium finish.
“Kaya sabi ko kay Aira, kung ano yung pinakita niya dun sa Algerian (Roumaysa Boualam), mas higitan niya pa,” said Velasco.
The seventh-ranked Lkhadiri won a hotly-contested fight against Daina Moorehouse of Ireland, 4-1, in the Round of 16 that preceded Villegas' fight bout.
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