Nesthy Petecio wasted no time announcing her arrival at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. The two-time Olympic medalist scored a Referee Stopped Contest (RSC) victory over Jordan’s Mays Alreem Abukhadijah, powering into the women’s 60kg quarterfinals on Saturday, September 26.

The bout ended at the 1:51 mark of the second round at Nishio City General Gymnasium, with referee Lukman Wekadapola calling a stop to the action. Petecio’s dominant showing left no doubt about her readiness for the tournament ahead.

Two Knockdowns Seal a Statement Win

Petecio, the featherweight silver medalist at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and bronze medalist at the Paris 2024 Olympics, controlled the fight from the opening bell. She earned the judges’ nod in round one by a 10-9 scorecard, setting the tone early against her Jordanian opponent.

The second round turned into a showcase of pure power for the Filipina boxing star. Petecio scored two separate knockdowns against Abukhadijah, leaving the referee no choice but to wave off the contest before it could continue.

The stoppage victory pushed Petecio into the quarterfinals alongside fellow Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Carlo Paalam. Paalam had earlier defeated Commonwealth Games silver medalist Jadumani Mandengbam of India via a 3-0 split decision on the same day.

Philippine Boxing Team Eyes Podium Finishes

Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines President Marcus Manalo praised the team’s performance following the twin victories. He noted that the results marked a strong start to the campaign for the national squad.

“Good day today for us as two Olympic medalists Carlo (Paalam) and Nesthy joined (Junmilardo) Ogayre to make it three boxers in the quarterfinals,” Manalo said. The trio’s advancement gives the Philippines multiple paths toward the medal rounds.

Manalo also outlined what lies ahead for the team, noting that the Philippines now sits just one win away from guaranteeing podium finishes. Each boxer’s next matchup carries direct medal implications heading into the tournament’s later rounds.

In the quarterfinals, Petecio will face China’s Chengyu Yang for a spot in the semifinals. Ogayre is set to battle Uzbekistan’s Abdumalik Khlakov in the men’s 60kg division, while Paalam takes on China’s Jiaomao Zhang in the men’s 55kg class.