By Kristel Satumbaga
Nesthy Petecio, left, is among the strong candidates to compete for the PH team in the Olympic qualifiers for the 2020 Tokyo Games. (Ali Vicoy)
Filipino boxers now set their sights on qualifying to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after a successful campaign in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
President Rodrigo Duterte, left, and SEA Games gold medal boxer Nesthy Petecio. (MB Photo / Alvin Kasiban)
First on the line is the Asia-Oceania Olympic qualifying tournament on Feb. 3 to 14 in Wuhan, China followed by the World Olympic qualifying tournament May 13 to 24 in Paris, France.
Continental qualifiers stake six berths each in the men’s 52kg, 57kg and 63kg, five each in the 69kg and 75kg, and four apiece in the 91kg and +91kgs. World qualifiers will have three to five slots depending on the weight class.
In the women’s division, Continental qualifiers stake six tickets in the 51kg and four each in the 57kg, 60kg, 69kg and 75kg. World qualifier will have three to six slots depending on the weight category.
Association of Boxing Alliances Inc secretary-general Ed Picson said the boxers are foregoing the holiday break to focus on their training especially with the Continental qualifiers happening in less than two months.
“Our focus is to qualify early,” he said.
Filipino fighters showed force at the recent SEA Games where they claimed seven gold, three silver and two bronze medals.
Nesthy Petecio is also a strong candidate to compete in the qualifiers after becoming the first Filipina world champion at the 2019 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Russia last October in the featherweight division.
Other strong candidates are Carlo Paalam, Rogen Ladon, Charly Suarez, James Palicte, Eumir Felix Marcial and Josie Gabuco, who won SEAG gold medals.
Boxing almost gave the country its first Olympic gold medal after Onyok Velasco finished silver at the 1996 Atlanta Games in the -48kg (light fly) class.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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