Philippines’ Nesthy Petecio and Japan’s Sena Irie are the first Asian medallists at the Tokyo Olympic Games

Asia secured two guaranteed medals in the boxing tournament of the Tokyo Olympic Games following four women athletes reached the semi-finals. Out of the first four medallists in the Olympic Games, two represent the Asian continent, Philippines’ Nesthy Petecio and Japan’s 21-year-old Sena Irie.

Boxers at the women’s featherweight (57kg) advanced to the semi-finals but further contests were held at the women’s middleweight (75kg), men’s featherweight (57kg) and men’s light heavyweight (81kg). These latter three weight classes hold their second preliminary rounds and India, China, Thailand and Mongolia won important bouts during these challenges.

Altogether 70 Asian boxers including 26 women and 44 men are able to represent their nations in the upcoming Tokyo Olympic Games. The final number of the boxers is 289 in the Games where thirteen champions will be crowned in Tokyo.

Philippines’ Nesthy Petecio is the first medallist in the Olympic Games

The quarter-finals were held in the women’s featherweight (57kg) in the fifth competition day and Philippines’ 2019 AIBA Women’s World Champion Nesthy Petecio became the first medallist of the boxing tournament of the Olympic Games. The Filipino eliminated the top favourite Lin Yu Ting of Chinese Taipei in the last 16 and continued her winning path against Colombia’s Yeni Marcela Arias. Petecio used her energetic attacks and landed the better punches in all of the three rounds which means she claimed Philippines’ first ever female boxing medal in an Olympics.

Japan’s Sena Irie is the second Asian medallist in the Tokyo Olympic Games

Japan’s Sena Irie claimed two bronze medals in the 2017 and 2018 AIBA Women’s Youth World Boxing Championships. She joined to the elite national team in 2019 and impressed quickly in several international tournaments. The Japanese featherweight (57kg) boxer claimed silver medal at the Asian & Oceanian Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event and she was named as one of the favourites. Irie met with another real fighter in the key quarter-final, Romania’s Maria Claudia Nechita who has very similar style of boxing. The 21-year-old Japanese was slightly better in the first round she found her very best tempo in the second. Nechita was outstanding in the third round, landed nice shots but Irie’s advantage was enough to take Japan’s first ever Olympic medal in women’s boxing.

India’s Pooja Rani defeated her Algerian rival by large margin of differences

India’s Pooja Rani is a 30-year-old experienced boxer at the women’s middleweight (75kg) who claimed two gold medals in the 2019 and 2021 ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships. The Indian was the strong favourite against Algeria’s 20-year-old Ichrak Chaib who had a few good youth results but she is still inexperienced in the international stage. Rani caught the North African boxer with quick punches in the first minute and she controlled the exchanges. The Indian, who is member of the national team since 2011, performed even better in the second round and eliminated the Algerian boxer.

China’s Li Qian opened her road successfully

China’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games bronze medallist Li Qian is the main favourite for the gold medal at the women’s middleweight (75kg) following her amazing winning path in the five-years long cycle. The experienced Chinese boxer started slowly against Ireland’s EUBC European Women’s Champion Aoife O’Rourke but from the second round she proved that she is the number one in the world. Li Qian used her distance successfully in the second and third rounds and the Chinese remained unbeaten in this Olympic cycle.

Thailand’s veteran Butdee is in the Top8

Thailand’s Chatchai Decha Butdee qualified for his third Olympic Games and he had strong motivation to reach a top result in his career end. The Thai featherweight (57kg) boxer eliminated Great Britain’s Peter McGrail in the first preliminary round and he was highly confident against Argentina’s Mirco Cuello. The 36-year-old Thai was too smart for his younger Argentinean rival and dominated the exchanges in the first and second rounds. Butdee slowed down in the third and saved some energies for the later actions but secured his place in the last eight.

Mongolia’s Erdenebat Tsendbaatar remained in action at the featherweight

Mongolia qualified three boxers to the Tokyo Olympic Games and their last hope who remained in action in Japan’s capital. The two-time ASBC Asian Champion and Asian Games winner Mongolian has got impressive power and after his tough first battle, he proved better performance as second. Tsendbaatar controlled the first round against Vietnam’s taller Nguyen Van Duong and caught his Southeast Asian rival. The Mongolian No.1 continued his outstanding performance and advanced to the quarter-finals, same as in Rio five years ago.

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