If Nesthy Petecio and Eumir Marcial win in their respective categories, they will represent the Philippines in the Olympics
Photo from Inquirer Sports
Women’s boxing featherweight champion Nesthy Petecio and world middleweight silver medalist Eumir Felix Marcial are set to represent the Philippines at the 2020 Asia & Oceania Olympic qualifying tournament from Mar. 3 to 11 in Amman, Jordan.
Petecio and Marcial were seeded number one in their own divisions among 221 male and female boxers from 35 countries. Petecio will compete in the featherweight division (57kg), while Marcial will participate in the middleweight category (75kg).
In order for Petecio and Marcial to qualify, they must at least finish in the top five of their corresponding categories. If both boxers win, they will represent the Philippines in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The country already has two representatives: gymnast Carlos Yulo and pole vaulter EJ Obiena.
Aside from Petecio and Marcial, SEA Games silver medalist Irish Magno and rookie Riza Pasulit are also going to represent the Philippines in the qualifying tournament. Magno will compete in the flyweight category (51kg) for an Olympic slot while Pasulit will participate in the lightweight category (60kg). Magno needs to make it to the top six in order to advance to the Olympics.
Carlo Paalam meanwhile will represent the men’s team in the flyweight division (52kg) with SEA Games gold medalist James Palicte set to compete in the lightweight division (63kg). Ian Clark Bautista, who also won a bronze at the recent SEA Games, will compete in the featherweight division (57kg).
All three need to make it to the top six of their categories to book a slot at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.