Nesthy Petecio respects judges’ verdict after settling for SEA Games bronze

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Competing in a heavier weight class after winning Olympic boxing medals in the women's 57kg division, Nesthy Petecio misses out on getting gold in back-to-back SEA Games following her close loss in the women's 63kg semifinals

CHONBURI, Thailand – Back-to-back boxing gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games remain elusive for Nesthy Petecio.

Petecio, a two-time Olympian, settled for bronze in the women’s 63kg class after a 3-2 loss to Indonesia’s Huswatun Hasanah in the semifinals at the Chulalongkorn University Sports Center in Bangkok, Thailand, on Saturday, December 13. 

Competing in a heavier weight class after winning an Olympic silver and bronze in the women’s 57kg category, Petecio felt she did just enough to reach the gold-medal match but said she respected the judges’ verdict. 

“I’m satisfied with my performance. It is my first time in this weight division, I’m heavier but my speed and strength are still there,” said Petecio in Filipino. 

“Even if we were not given the win that we’re looking for here, I always respect the judges’ decision. But it was evident, and even I know it, that I was leading in that fight.”

Petecio took a break for nearly a year after bringing home the 57kg bronze in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

That long layoff led to her weight gain and Petecio needed to move up to 63kg, which is two divisions above his normal class.

“I trained for this for only about a month. I’m happy because my speed is still there,” said Petecio. “The lesson is to stick to 57kg.” 

Despite the loss, Petecio raised her SEA Games medal tally to seven after bagging golds in 2019 and 2023, silvers in 2011, 2013, and 2015, and a bronze in 2021. 

Another Filipino Olympian failed to reach the final as Hergie Bacyadan also got bronze following a defeat to home bet Baison Manikon in the women’s 70kg on Friday, December 12. – Rappler.com