With medal already assured, Nesthy Petecio feels 'blessed' in Olympic debut

Published July 28, 2021 4:17pm

Philippines' Nesthy Petecio (red) reacts after winning against Colombia's Yeni Marcela Arias Castaneda at the end of their women's feather (54-57kg) quarter-final boxing match during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo on July 28, 2021. Frank Franklin II / POOL / AFP

Filipino boxer Nesthy Petecio is having her time in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

After getting three wins, Petecio is already assured of at least a bronze medal after advancing to the women's boxing featherweight division semifinals in her debut in the Summer Games.

"I am so happy for this moment," Petecio said in a statement. "This is my first Olympics and I have won my first medal. I don’t really know how I feel right now."

“This tournament is proving so special to me, I am just so blessed,” Petecio added.

With Petecio's victory in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, the Philippines is also set to have its first multi-medal performance in the Games of the Olympiad. The last time it happened was back in 1932.

Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz on Monday bagged the country's first Olympic gold and first medal in the Tokyo Games.

—Justin Kenneth Carandang/JMB, GMA News

Tags: nesthy petecio, 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Philippines at the Tokyo Olympics