Hergie Bacyadan proved she can excel in any combat sport, transitioning from Paris Olympics boxing to World Games kickboxing with an impressive performance in Chengdu. The pride of Kalinga Province scored a convincing 3-0 victory over Hungary’s Valentina Keri in the women’s K1 70-kilogram quarterfinals on Tuesday at the Sichuan Gymnasium.

Bacyadan overcame a tightly contested opening round, regaining her composure and using her height and reach advantage to control the pace. With sharp timing and calculated combinations, she steadily pulled away to secure the win and earn a spot in the semifinals.

Bacyadan to face Portugal’s Catarina Dias in semifinals

Her next challenge comes against Catarina Dias of Portugal, scheduled for Wednesday at 8:15 p.m. Dias is no stranger to big stages, having reached the Round of 16 in the Paris Games last year. She earned her own semifinal berth by defeating Brazil’s Carolina Sousa Santos, also via a 3-0 decision.

Bacyadan expressed determination ahead of the clash with Dias, saying she will study her opponent thoroughly to prepare for the bout. A win would put her in contention for a World Games kickboxing gold medal, further solidifying her reputation as one of the Philippines’ most versatile combat athletes.