THE commitment has transformed into a tradition as the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) gifts Paris 2024 Olympics double gold medalist gymnast Carlos Yulo not one but two houses-and-lots while bronze medalist boxers Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas will soon walk into their brand new bungalows in Tagaytay City.

“It’s now a tradition, first Hidilyn Diaz [Naranjo] deserved all the best for giving the country its first Olympic gold medal and now, it’s the turn of Caloy [Yulo], Nesthy and Aira to be feted with the same reward for their historic efforts,” Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said on Tuesday.

For Yulo, his two two-storey homes would sit on a 500-square meter lot appraised at around P15 million, according to POC secretary-general Atty. Wharton Chan.

These new homes will also be highlighted with gazebos, Tolentino said.

For Petecio, it would be her second home in Tagaytay City after the first one she received for her silver from Tokyo 2020—she’s neighbor to fellow silver medalist Carlos Paalam and bronze medalist Eumir Felix Marcial in a compound aptly called Olympic Village in the city also courtesy of Tolentino and the POC.

Petecio and Villegas’s bungalows will rise on separate 200-square meter lots and just like Yulo’s, will be furnished with basic amenities, according to Tolentino.

“All the rewards and bonuses that go our medalists’ way are well-deserved, it’s not easy to medal in the Olympics, it takes years, it takes focus, discipline and determination,” Tolentino said.

“These athletes invested their lives into the sports they love and now, they’re reaping the fruits of their sacrifices,” he added.

Tolentino withheld announcing the locations of the homes but would be turning over the keys to the medalist Olympians in a ceremony fit for champions.

“The POC doesn’t think twice about these rewards, an Olympic medal, regardless of color, is the most precious medal in sports,” said Tolentino as he thanked the POC Board for showing full gratitude to the efforts of Yulo, Petecio and Villegas.

By Darryl John Esguerra

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has congratulated Filipina boxer Nesthy Petecio for winning the bronze medal in the women’s 57kg category at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Despite a narrow split decision loss to Poland’s Julia Szeremeta in the semifinal, President Marcos praised Petecio’s performance, stating, “You’ve truly shown the world how Filipinos never back down from a challenge. The whole country is proud of you! Taas kamao para sa boxingerong Pilipino (Fist up for Filipino boxers).”

Petecio’s bronze is the fourth medal for the Philippines at the current Summer Games, following Carlos Yulo’s two gold medals in men’s artistic gymnastics and Aira Villegas’ bronze in women’s 50kg boxing.

Joining the ranks of elite Filipino athletes with multiple Olympic medals, Petecio previously secured a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

(ia/mnm)

MANILA – Nesthy Petecio went down fighting opposite Poland’s Julia Szeremata in the semifinals of the Paris Olympics women’s featherweight boxing event at Roland Garros Stadium. Despite an impressive start, Petecio lost in a 4-1 split decision, securing a bronze medal for the Philippines.

Szeremata’s strong performance in the final two rounds swayed the judges in her favor, ending hopes for a rematch between Petecio and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-Ting, who won her semifinal bout against Turkiye’s Esra Kahraman.

Earlier, golfer Bianca Pagdanganan positioned herself for a potential medal in the women’s golf event at Le Golf National. She tied for 13th place with an even par 72, just two strokes behind the leaders after the first round. Fellow golfer Dottie Ardina struggled, finishing four-over-par 76, while Yuka Saso ended at five-over-par 77. French golfer Celine Boutier led with a seven-under-par 65.

Weightlifter John Ceniza had a disappointing Olympic debut, failing to complete his lifts in the men’s 61-kilogram event. China’s Li Fabin won gold, setting a new Olympic record in the snatch.

ia/mnm

MANILA – Nesthy Petecio has advanced to the quarterfinals of the women’s boxing 57-kilogram division after defeating hometown favorite Amina Zidani  early Saturday (PH time).

Four judges scored the bout 30-27, 29-28, 29-28, and 29-28 in favor of Petecio, while one judge awarded it to Zidani with a score of 29-28.

Teammates Aira Villegas (women’s 50kg) and Carlo Paalam (men’s 57kg) have also secured spots in the quarterfinals. One more win will guarantee them a bronze medal.

“CAN — Carlo, Aira, and Nesthy, so we can,” the 32-year-old Davao del Sur native told One News.

In other events on Saturday, EJ Obiena’s pole vault qualification starts at 4:10 PM; Carlos Yulo competes for a medal in the men’s gymnastics floor exercise final beginning at 9:30 PM; and Paalam aims for a win that will advance him to the medal round at around 9:45 PM, all PH time.

On Sunday, Lauren Hoffman will start her bid in the women’s 400-meter hurdles from 6:35 PM onwards, while John Cabang Tolentino’s men’s 110-meter hurdles competition kicks off on August 6 from 4:50 PM, both PH time.

As of 1 PM, China leads the medal tally with 13 golds, 9 silvers, and 9 bronzes. Host country France has 11 golds, 12 silvers, and 13 bronzes, followed by Australia with 11 golds, 6 silvers, and 5 bronzes.

The USA has 9 golds, 18 silvers, and 16 bronzes, Great Britain has 9 golds, 10 silvers, and 8 bronzes, Japan has 8 golds, 4 silvers, and 6 bronzes, and South Korea has 7 golds, 5 silvers, and 4 bronzes.

(el Amigo/mnm)

MANILA — Nesthy Petecio, the 32-year-old Filipino boxer and Tokyo 2021 silver medalist, has advanced to the Round of 16 in the Paris Olympics.

Petecio dominated Jaismine Lamboria of India in the women’s 57-kilogram class, securing a unanimous decision win early Wednesday (PH time).

The judges scored the match 30-27 and 29-28, all favoring Petecio. She will face first-time Olympian Amina Zidani of France on August 3.

The Philippine Olympic Committee celebrated Petecio’s victory with a post on Facebook: “Your dedication, hard work, and skill continue to inspire us all. Let’s keep the support and cheers going!”

PARIS—Olympic medalists Nesthy Petecio and Eumir Marcial kick off their Paris 2024 campaigns on Tuesday (30 July 2024) aiming to surpass their previous Olympic achievements.

Petecio, the Tokyo Olympics silver medalist, faces India’s Jaismine Lamboria in the women’s 57kg Round of 32 at 5:54 p.m. (11:54 p.m. Philippine time). Lamboria, a Commonwealth Games bronze medalist, secured her Olympic spot after a series of impressive victories.

Determined to claim gold, Petecio vows to fight relentlessly until victory.

“Walang hinto, hangga’t walang ginto,” said Petecio, repeating the battle-cry she started after bagging the silver medal in Tokyo.

Marcial, the Tokyo bronze medalist, received a first-round bye before facing Uzbekistan’s Turabek Khabibullaev in the Round of 16 at  9:04 p.m. in Paris (July 31, 3:04 a.m. Philippine time).

Should he prevail, a potential quarterfinal clash with reigning Olympic champion Arlen Lopez of Cuba looms large. The Cuban, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, turned professional after his Tokyo triumph but has maintained his competitive edge.

Beyond Lopez, the road to gold is littered with formidable opponents.

Top seed Tuohetaerbieke Tanglatihan of China, who defeated Marcial at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, and the hard-hitting Ukrainian Oleksandr Khyzhniak, who narrowly edged out the Filipino in Tokyo, pose significant threats.

“Abangan na lang nila,” said Marcial when asked what kind of preparation he has done for the Olympics when spotted by Filipino sportswriters after Aira Villegas’ 5-0 triumph early Monday morning against Morocco’s Yasmine Mouttaki.

(el Amigo/mnm)

MANILA — Boxers Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam will represent the Philippines as flag bearers at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony on July 26.

Both athletes, who won silver medals at the Tokyo Olympics, are returning hoping to achieve gold.

In March, Petecio secured her spot for Paris by reaching the finals of the 1st World Qualification Tournament in Italy for the women’s 57 kg category.

Paalam, who missed an earlier qualification due to a shoulder injury, earned his place by advancing to the finals of the 2nd World Qualification Tournament in Thailand for the men’s 57 kg category last month.

(el Amigo/mnm)

MANILA — Boxers Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas have clinched their tickets to Paris this July following their stellar performances at the 1st World Qualification Tournament in Busto Arsizio, Italy, on Tuesday (12 March 2024).

Petecio demonstrated her prowess by defeating Turkey’s Esra Yildiz with a score of 4-1 in the semifinals of the women’s 57kg category, earning herself a return trip to the Olympics after securing the silver medal in Tokyo.

“I feel incredibly blessed. This opportunity is immensely important to me, especially considering it might be my final Olympics,” Petecio shared in an interview with olympics.com.

“I dedicate this victory to so many individuals, particularly my family, to God, and to the memory of our former President who has passed away, Ed Picson, as well as to my life partner. Before the tournament, I made a promise to her that I would secure a spot for Paris, and finally, here we are! I am overjoyed,” added the 31-year-old from Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur.

“I am determined to pursue the Olympic gold medal,” Petecio affirmed.

Meanwhile, Villegas secured her place with a decisive 5-0 victory over Bulgaria’s Zlatislava Chukanova in the quarterfinals of the women’s 50kg class.

Petecio and Villegas will join their compatriots, including fellow boxer and Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Eumir Marcial, pole vaulter EJ Obiena, and gymnasts Carlo Yulo and Aleah Finnegan, in the Paris Summer Games scheduled from July 26 to August 11.

(By el Amigo/MNM)

MANILA — Filipino female boxers Aira Villegas and Nesthy Petecio are on the brink of securing berths for the Paris Olympics in July this year following impressive victories in the 2024 1st World Qualification Tournament held in Busto Arsizio, Italy.

Villegas advanced to the quarterfinals of the women’s 50kg category after a commanding win over Sofie Rosshaug of Denmark, securing a unanimous decision victory on Sunday, March 10.

A triumph in the quarterfinals against Zlatislava Chukanova of Bulgaria on Tuesday, March 12 (Manila time) will secure Villegas’ ticket to the Olympics, with the top four boxers in the women’s 50kg division advancing to the Paris Games.

Meanwhile, Petecio, a silver medalist at the Tokyo Olympics, moved one step closer to her Olympic return by defeating Maud van der Toorn of the Netherlands in the women’s 57kg quarterfinals.

To secure her place in the Paris Games, Petecio must overcome Esra Yildiz of Turkey in the semifinals, also scheduled for early Tuesday (Manila time), with only the finalists in the women’s 57kg category progressing to the Olympics.

Unfortunately, Petecio’s fellow Olympic silver medalist Carlo Paalam exited the tournament after succumbing to Kiaran MacDonald of Great Britain in the men’s 57kg round of 16 on Tuesday.

However, Paalam’s hopes for Olympic qualification remain alive, with another opportunity in the 2nd World Qualification Tournament scheduled for May.

(By el Amigo/MNM)